Heydi Arauz’s pathway to nursing began when she worked as a medical assistant, then earned her LPN, and later became an RN. She feels hospice offers a special type of care. “While working in hospice, you develop empathy,” she says. “This is an incredibly hard time in the individual and family’s life, and I support them as we make the adjustments to carry on.”

Arauz recognizes the unique role she has and finds fulfillment in it. “I am the last person to provide the most peaceful, professional, comfortable, and respectful support to the family and patient in the last moments of life,” she says.

She recalls a patient who remains memorable to her: “As I made my visits, I noticed he was a dance instructor. Due to his condition, he was unable to dance anymore. I played his favorite melodies and pretended I was his student as I moved around. I asked him if I was doing it right and he would smile so vividly. For that moment, he forgot about his illness. My goal was to make him laugh every time. That became our routine until he passed.”