Baystate Health’s Post

"My name is Emily Stout, and I am an NP with the inpatient Palliative Care team. I have always wanted to be a nurse. My career as an NP has been guided by my personal and clinical experiences. One defining moment that led me to Palliative Care was my grandmother’s journey with multiple myeloma and treatment. I clearly recall the thanksgiving dinner when she presented a newspaper article to my family about a person with a serious illness. This article helped her share with us what she felt was her acceptable quality of life and her wishes for medical care in the future. A few years later, at the end of her life, we were able to make decisions that we knew were in alignment with her hopes for her final days of care. I will forever remember her and the gift of clarity she gave us. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is my time spent with patients and their support network. They share with me a narrative of a life lived, and what is of most value to them in their world. Along with my colleagues, I enjoy using these stories to advocate for the care of the patient. Care that matches their preferences and values. A message that I would have for someone who may be reading this with a family member who is near the end of life or recently lost a family member is to never hesitate to share your loved one’s stories or photos with their care team. If you are comfortable, we always want to know about you and your loved one. Sharing photos and stories helps us understand what is important to you and the person you love." #MyBaystateStory