Nurses Share Their Emotional Journeys in Providing Comfort and Dignity in the Final Moments of Patients’ Lives
In the quiet moments after a patient passes away, nurses in Singapore perform the critical role of ensuring dignity and respect for the deceased and their families. The “last offices” procedures, which include cleaning and preparing the body, are a deeply emotional and integral part of nursing. Two nurses, Neo Hwee Shuen and Pamela Koh, share their experiences of confronting death on a daily basis.
Hwee Shuen, a staff nurse at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, reflects on her first encounter with death as a nursing student. She recalls a patient who was initially well but deteriorated rapidly. As the patient passed away, Hwee Shuen found herself comforting the family and participating in the solemn process of the last offices. Over time, she learned how to support grieving families while balancing her own emotions. Now working in the Children’s Intensive Care Unit, Hwee Shuen often cares for critically ill children, which has made her more attuned to the intense grief of parents. She emphasizes the importance of involving families in the last offices, allowing them to participate in this final act of care for their loved ones.
Pamela Koh, a palliative care nurse at Dover Park Hospice, has spent over a decade working in end-of-life care. Her experience with her grandfather, who was a palliative care patient, inspired her to pursue this field. She speaks about the holistic approach to palliative care, which not only manages physical pain but also supports the emotional and spiritual well-being of patients. At Dover Park Hospice, nurses guide the families through the death and last offices process, including observing religious rites as needed. Pamela recalls the emotional support provided to a patient who had no family, describing how she stayed by the patient’s side until the very end.
Both nurses describe the emotional toll of their work, especially when witnessing the death of young children. Hwee Shuen reflects on how these experiences have changed her perception of life, encouraging her to focus on activities that bring joy. She highlights the importance of having a support network of colleagues and friends to cope with the emotional weight of their work.
Despite the challenges, both Hwee Shuen and Pamela find their work deeply rewarding. They encourage those interested in nursing, particularly in palliative care, to pursue the profession, as it allows them to make a meaningful impact every day.
