I became a phlebotomist in 2023 and then an EMT this past June. I am 35 and got into healthcare after becoming a mom with the plan to pursue nursing, then faltered when I saw the reality of nursing. I LOVE healthcare and am deciding on next steps (probably not for 2-3yrs because I am now pregnant with our second). A few months ago I had this realization that the one area of nursing I COULD see myself feeling fulfilled in and possibly enjoying is palliative care/hospice nursing. I have dealt with several close deaths as an adult, and I now see the reality that a lot of our patients are living with. I hate that as an EMT, there are frail 90 year olds with no quality of life whose ribs I would have to break with CPR if they went unresponsive because they/their family can’t face death. I appreciate that hospice patients have accepted their diagnoses and made a choice that I can also be at peace with. I love people and would love to have some role in providing them with comfort at the end of their lives. Of course I know that not all hospice patients are at the end of their natural lives and I will have to weigh the reality of having younger patients, too (especially parents with children, because close to home). If you’ve taken the time to read this, thank you. I appreciate any and all input, good and bad.   submitted by   /u/McSkrong [link]   [comments]