Sue Shipley

Background

About Sue Shipley

Dying and death are the two single things that every person on this planet has in common. With 100% of us expecting to go through this at an undetermined time, our societal death denying strategy is both harmful and unnecessary. Throughout my career in caring for individuals and their families as they face life limiting illness, I have come to realize that as a health care professional it is my duty to be comfortable with this non-negotiable part of life. As a palliative care nurse, I recognized that I had no control over the outcome of a life-limiting illness, but I had every control as to how end-of-life care was provided. The richness of the lives created by each one of us should stay with us throughout our entire life, even through a life-limiting illness to death. My goal is to share the philosophy that palliative care is simply excellent person-centred care, where health care providers respect the person's (and family's) goals and wishes. The compassion shown by the care provider will long be remembered by those who watch a loved one die,and we have only one chance to make their memories the best they can possibly be. Attaining both the gerontological nursing and hospice palliative care certifications,added another dimension to my knowledge of hospice palliative care. The need for dignity at end of life is something we all hope for, and yet many of our frail, elderly population lose this fundamental human right. Quality of life that meets the person and family's goals, effective symptom management, a team approach to care and family support at end of life and into bereavement are the cornerstones of good, person-centred care.