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Susan McCurry

Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care folks serving Bedford County are (front row,
can be,” she said. “It’s all about living. It’s not from left) Director of Clinical Services, Susan McCurry; Amber Faulk, Social Work;
about dying.” Crystal Throneberry, Hospice Aide; Lauren Collins, RN Case Manager; Ashley West,
fear of the unknown is a common and Hospice Aide; Roxane Cobb, RN Clinical Liaison and Heather Hale, Hospice Aide. In
unwelcome companion of dying patients and the back row, from left, are Jeff Collett, Chaplin Services; Lisa Warren, Hospice Aide;
their families. there is no handbook on dying, Sasha Trott, RN Case Manager; Chris Bailey, Managing Clinical Director/Tennessee
and Amy Carden, Hospice Care Consultant.
susan said. “no one comes back and writes
the book on how to die.” that those of us who’ve been here for a while have. It’s a very
demanding job.”
An unbreakable bond the other aspect to her new job that susan looks forward to
the intensity of hospice work often creates strong emotional is spreading the message through community outreach about the
bonds between patients’ families and hospice workers. “It’s services hospice provides.
amazing how, in a very short period of time you can develop “we know there are so many more people who could benefit we know there are so many more people who could benefit w
such a strong relationship with a patient and family,” susan from hospice and benefit from being on hospice for a longer
said. “the families often tell us how difficult it is when the period of time. everybody is going to deal with death but those
family member has passed away and we no longer come. you’ve you’ve y who have not had the opportunity to have a support system are
become an integral part of their daily life. It’s a loss for us too. It’s missing out.”
a relationship that can be very strong.”
“people don’t forget their hospice nurse. people don’t forget their hospice nurse. p later, when they see When a helper needs a break
their hospice nurse at walmart, or wherever, it brings everything walmart, or wherever, it brings everything w w w
working in such an emotional high-stress occupation takes its orking in such an emotional high-stress occupation takes its
back and you just go in for that hug,” said compassus volunteer toll. susan’s tools to unwind are simple: dirt and family.
coordinator julia logan-mayes. “we do have to have mental health days from time-to-time,” we do have to have mental health days from time-to-time,” w
julia knows whereof she speaks. she was a client of hospice she said. “working in the dirt is my therapy, gardening, especially working in the dirt is my therapy, gardening, especially w
when her husband died. “when you’re going through this you when you’re going through this you w flowers. my daughter has always said “mom’s in therapy. she’s
don’t have time for all the fluff,” she said. “you are down there you are down there y out digging in the dirt.’”
with the pearl divers, digging deep and talking about really hard susan’s other therapy is spending time with her grandchildren
things from the get-go. when hospice came to my home it was when hospice came to my home it was w – three of them under age 4 and a step-grandson in his 20s.
like angels walking in the door. somebody to hold your hand her grandchildren, she said, helps her to realize that “there’s a
and walk you down that path. It takes a really strong nurse to different aspect to life” other than her life’s work of providing
do this.” hospice care.

Out of the field, into the office • Compassus provides hospice services to terminal patients
now that susan is a director, she will no longer spend as and palliative care for those with serious ongoing illnesses such
much time in direct patient care. when asked if she will miss when asked if she will miss w as cancer, advanced lung diseases, heart disease, kidney failure,
direct contact with patients and families, her first response was advanced dementia and multiple sclerosis. hospice and palliative
preceded with a deep sigh. “Absolutely, I know it,” she said. care are covered by medicare, medicaid and most health insurance
“I guess my hope is that I will be able to share my passion for policies and the service is also available for indigent patients.
hospice with new nurses coming in and help to educate them. f f
for more information about or more information about compassus and the services they
hopefully they will develop the passion and desire for hospice offer call 931- 455-9118 or 877-456-9118. H
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