Julia Payette

Background

About Julia Payette

When I took the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program at Algonquin College, I had a course titled 'End of Life Care'. In this course, we discussed the concept of a good death. At first, the idea of a “good death” was quite jarring. My beliefs were challenged – isn’t all death bad? To die a good death is to die free of unnecessary suffering while having your wishes respected. In the 'End of Life Care' course, I learned the importance of taking a holistic approach when caring for someone. That is, to consider the individual's emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and mental health while providing care. By assisting someone with a holistic approach, especially at the end of life, you provide them with dignity as they reach a significant milestone in their life. Many Canadians would like to die at home, yet only 15% are able to receive palliative care in their home. Further research reveals that 60% of Canadians die in a hospital setting, while the remaining percentage of Canadians die elsewhere. I strongly believe that hospitals (ex. a medical-surgical unit) do not have the capacity to assist these patients with a holistic approach that would benefit them the most. This belief led me to pursue Practical Nursing (PN). In the future, I aspire to be a clinical research nurse to improve accessibility to palliative and hospice care in Canada. My beliefs were challenged, and I learned that dying is just as important as living. For now, I am reminded of how privileged I am to have the opportunity as an RPN to work alongside those who are receiving end-of-life care. It is a very special position to be in, as each person’s experience with dying is unique. I am committed to lifelong learning so that I can provide the best care possible for every person I encounter.