Hello, my name is Deanna Cochran, creator of this course, Accompanying the Dying, a practical guide and awareness training. I am a doula for the dying. I am also a RN, board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care.
This course came out of many requests over the years from people asking for assistance in getting started in this work as a non-nurse provider of doula type services to the dying. Lately, I have been meeting nurses who also want this kind of training. We do not get this in nursing school or on the job in hospitals or doctor's offices.
Whenever someone wrote or called, my standard answer has always been to, "... get in contact with your local hospice and begin training with them doing what we call 11th hour volunteering..." I still stand by that as a great thing to do. I would like anyone who takes this course to seriously consider doing just that. It would be the hands on piece to your new extensive knowledge base and growing self awareness.
So, I have now decided to put my ideas into a process that I think will help people do this work as well. It will be a continual loving work in progress, strengthened by my experiences with each of you.
I am a Registered Nurse and have worked in end-of-life care environments since 2000 in various capacities within and outside of hospice. Presently I work as an after hours, crisis care RN for a local hospice along with my private doula work. Below is some additional professional and personal information.
One of my earliest memories of death was when I was about 6 or 7 years old when someone close to our family died. I heard people talking about it and when I asked to go to the funeral, I was told "no," and a hush fell over the room. Years later, when I was 13 and living in Laredo, Texas, my grandmother said to me one day "c'mon, get your shoes on and come with me." She didn't say where we were going or what we were about to do.
We walked down the rocky, unpaved streets of our neighborhood to her friend's home. Her friend was dying. When we walked into the room, there were other ladies sitting quietly with their veils on, praying. There was a majestic reverence in the room that is hard to describe. I was profoundly affected by this experience and felt so honored that my grandmother included me in this vigil. Years later, before I became a nurse, I learned to care for the dying in a very personal way during the year of my grandmother's dying (thanks to my aunts who showed me how to take tender loving care of her at home).
Fast forward to 1999. It became clear in my second semester of nursing school that my work would be with those of us who are dying. I was supported and encouraged by my professors to follow my heart. Within 3 months of receiving my RN license in 2000, I was training at a local hospice.
Throughout the last several years I have worked in oncology, long term acute care and skilled nursing facilities as well, but mostly within hospice in various roles. In each setting, what it taught me was there was needless suffering going on and I wanted to be part of changing that. During this time, 2 more family members died from lengthy illnesses that were very precious to me.
After the sudden and rapid decline and death of my mother from cholangiocarcinoma, June 15, 2005, I decided to start my private practice as a doula to the dying and to their families. As I went to various places to let people know I was available for this, people had so many questions on how to deal with life-limiting illness in general. My talks began to be about palliative care.
One thing led to another and I found myself consulting with families regarding palliative issues and created Quality of Life Care (QLC). I no longer work with QLC, though I keep the website up as a web based resource center. I began focusing once again primarily on my doula practice and am excited to help families in this very special way; my website, A Gentle Guide, describes this.
Being a nurse is the way that I have been able to serve the dying and I feel very blessed and fortunate to have been able to do so. We each have our unique gifts and special callings. You will find your own way to reach the dying.You will find your own way in being able to express and serve.
Peace to you.
Everything I do in this work is dedicated to my mother. I wrote a song for her, A Lifetime Before Me
Interview by The Austin American Statesman in September 2010. The Article.
This course came out of many requests over the years from people asking for assistance in getting started in this work as a non-nurse provider of doula type services to the dying. Lately, I have been meeting nurses who also want this kind of training. We do not get this in nursing school or on the job in hospitals or doctor's offices.
Whenever someone wrote or called, my standard answer has always been to, "... get in contact with your local hospice and begin training with them doing what we call 11th hour volunteering..." I still stand by that as a great thing to do. I would like anyone who takes this course to seriously consider doing just that. It would be the hands on piece to your new extensive knowledge base and growing self awareness.
So, I have now decided to put my ideas into a process that I think will help people do this work as well. It will be a continual loving work in progress, strengthened by my experiences with each of you.
I am a Registered Nurse and have worked in end-of-life care environments since 2000 in various capacities within and outside of hospice. Presently I work as an after hours, crisis care RN for a local hospice along with my private doula work. Below is some additional professional and personal information.
- Private end-of-life doula, www.aGentleGuide.com
- RN in end-of-life care within hospice and outside of hospice since 2000
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse
- Founder, Quality of Life Care, 2006
- Palliative Consultant and Advocate for families
- Director of Education, Lone Star Academy of Allied Health, Jan 2010 - Sept 2011
- BA from University of Texas, 1990
- Trained Mediator
- Certified Celebrant
- Event Co-Coordinator for the 2008 2nd annual Austin Texas Celebration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The World Event
- Organizer for the 1st annual 2007 Austin Texas Celebration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. NHPCO interview
One of my earliest memories of death was when I was about 6 or 7 years old when someone close to our family died. I heard people talking about it and when I asked to go to the funeral, I was told "no," and a hush fell over the room. Years later, when I was 13 and living in Laredo, Texas, my grandmother said to me one day "c'mon, get your shoes on and come with me." She didn't say where we were going or what we were about to do.
We walked down the rocky, unpaved streets of our neighborhood to her friend's home. Her friend was dying. When we walked into the room, there were other ladies sitting quietly with their veils on, praying. There was a majestic reverence in the room that is hard to describe. I was profoundly affected by this experience and felt so honored that my grandmother included me in this vigil. Years later, before I became a nurse, I learned to care for the dying in a very personal way during the year of my grandmother's dying (thanks to my aunts who showed me how to take tender loving care of her at home).
Fast forward to 1999. It became clear in my second semester of nursing school that my work would be with those of us who are dying. I was supported and encouraged by my professors to follow my heart. Within 3 months of receiving my RN license in 2000, I was training at a local hospice.
Throughout the last several years I have worked in oncology, long term acute care and skilled nursing facilities as well, but mostly within hospice in various roles. In each setting, what it taught me was there was needless suffering going on and I wanted to be part of changing that. During this time, 2 more family members died from lengthy illnesses that were very precious to me.
After the sudden and rapid decline and death of my mother from cholangiocarcinoma, June 15, 2005, I decided to start my private practice as a doula to the dying and to their families. As I went to various places to let people know I was available for this, people had so many questions on how to deal with life-limiting illness in general. My talks began to be about palliative care.
One thing led to another and I found myself consulting with families regarding palliative issues and created Quality of Life Care (QLC). I no longer work with QLC, though I keep the website up as a web based resource center. I began focusing once again primarily on my doula practice and am excited to help families in this very special way; my website, A Gentle Guide, describes this.
Being a nurse is the way that I have been able to serve the dying and I feel very blessed and fortunate to have been able to do so. We each have our unique gifts and special callings. You will find your own way to reach the dying.You will find your own way in being able to express and serve.
Peace to you.
Everything I do in this work is dedicated to my mother. I wrote a song for her, A Lifetime Before Me
Interview by The Austin American Statesman in September 2010. The Article.
copyright2011-2012DeannaCochran
