By Karen Peterson
Hospice nurses are often associated with compassion at the end of life. What is less understood is that they are also among the most clinically skilled nurses in healthcare.
During National Nurses Week (May 6-12), it is important to recognize the many ways nurses shape patient care across the continuum. Hospice nursing is not a step away from acute care. It is an extension of it.
Every day, hospice nurses work with an interdisciplinary team to ensure management of complex symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, agitation and cardiac distress. They assess, prioritize and act in real time, helping patients remain comfortable and supported wherever they call home.
A hospice nurse may be called to a patient’s home late at night for uncontrolled pain or severe shortness of breath — symptoms that might otherwise lead to an emergency department visit. In that moment, the nurse must assess, intervene and stabilize, while also supporting the family through fear and uncertainty.
In most cases, their clinical judgment prevents unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
A critical partner in the care continuum
For healthcare professionals working in hospitals and health systems, hospice nurses are critical partners. They help ensure safe, informed transitions of care. They reinforce care and treatment plans and educate families. When hospice is introduced at the right time, patients experience better symptom management and families feel more prepared and supported.
Earlier integration of hospice care is also associated with improved patient experience and more appropriate use of healthcare resources. Hospice nurses play a key role in aligning treatment with a patient’s goals, helping reduce confusion and avoid unwanted interventions.
This is especially important in South Florida, where diverse communities bring a wide range of perspectives on illness, caregiving, end-of-life decisions, family dynamics and more. Hospice nurses meet patients and families where they are. They listen first, then guide, helping translate complex medical realities into care that respects individual values.
Where clinical expertise meets human connection
What sets hospice nurses apart is their ability to combine their compassion with clinical precision. They are skilled communicators, educators and problem-solvers. They support families through anticipatory grief while also managing medication regimens, monitoring changes in condition and coordinating with physicians and interdisciplinary teams.
At VITAS Healthcare, we see this every day. Our nurses are often the steady presence in moments that are uncertain or overwhelming. They bring a calming confidence to patients and families navigating serious illness.
We are also proud to see our nurses recognized for their leadership and commitment to the profession.
This year, Yamile Zayas, a registered nurse and training director at VITAS, was selected as the 2026 Judy Lentz Leadership Development Scholarship recipient through the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation. Dr. Judy Lentz is a trailblazer in hospice and palliative care and one of the first PhD graduates in the field in the United States. Her work helped shape national quality guidelines and continues to influence the next generation of nurse leaders.
Yamile shared, “Being able to learn from Dr. Lentz is an incredible privilege, and I’m eager to bring that growth back to our work here at VITAS.” Her recognition reflects the strength of hospice nursing and the future of our profession.
Recognizing the impact of hospice nurses
As we recognize Nurses Week, it is worth taking a closer look at the role hospice nurses play in the broader healthcare landscape. They are not only present at the end of life. They are essential to how we deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.
For providers, that means recognizing when hospice can support patients earlier in the course of serious illness, not only at the very end. For nurses, it is a reminder that this field offers an opportunity to practice at the highest level of both clinical skill and human connection.
And for all of us, it is a moment to recognize the nurses who show up each day to make a meaningful difference for patients, for families and for each other.
Karen Peterson is the chief nursing officer for VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care. Learn more about a fulfilling nursing career in hospice at careers.vitas.com.
