Meditation and Mindfulness at End of Life; A Hospice Nurse's Personal Journey

Beth Cavenaugh has been a nurse for over 28 years and has been certified in Hospice and Palliative Care since 2009. After helping to take care of her mother when she died in 1998, Beth realized the profound nature of this work and the difficulties of caring for someone you love. She started working as a hospice nurse in 2006 and continues to feel a deep call to this work. She is currently studying at Columbia University to attain a Master’s Degree in Narrative Medicine.

Beth writes and educates about end-of-life care because she hopes to demystify death and dying so that more people will walk toward this powerful life event rather than run away from it. Her books include "Some Light At The End: Your Bedside Guide To Peaceful Palliative and Hospice Care" and "The Power and Pain of Nursing: Self-Care Practices To Protect And Replenish Compassion." She wants everyone to exit this world knowing their wishes will be respected, they will be taken care of, and they will be comfortable in the final stage of their beautiful life.

Learn more about Beth and read her blog here: https://www.bethcavenaugh.com/ 

00:02 - Sara-Mai Conway introduces Beth Cavenaugh
01:57 - Beth introduces herself and invites everyone to introduce themselves
14:25 - Overview of today’s presentation
16:21 - Beth’s journey with mindfulness (and as a hospice nurse)
28:30 - Bernice Harper’s stages of coping with professional anxiety in death and dying
33:10 - Being with the pain of another without taking it on
39:14 - The importance of autonomy at the end of life, asking people what they want
43:10 - Bringing awareness to the challenges of talking about death and dying 
47:15 - How mindfulness practices help us witness hard things
49:28 - Mindful hospice and caregiving
51:44 - How education about death and dying can minimize anxiety
1:00:16 - The two stages of dying: Transition and Actively Dying
1:05:25 - The gift of presence
1:09:40 - The thinning of the veil and visioning at end of life
1:13:08 - Brief practice: 3-6 breath
1:14:25 - Assisting with closing unfinished business
1:17:15 - The actively dying stage
1:21:10 - Pausing for presence at the moment of death
1:25:26  - Guided practice by Roshi Joan Halifax
1:26:58 - Group discussion
1:37:55 - Final thoughts and resources