Starting Out in the End: Talking With Barbara Karnes artwork
The Heart of Hospice Podcast

Starting Out in the End: Talking With Barbara Karnes

  • S9E15
  • 45:22
  • November 4th 2024

In honor of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month - and National Family Caregivers Month - we’re featuring a special 4-part series with special guest Barbara Karnes, Hospice Nurse and End of Life Educator.  In the first episode of the series, Barbara shares how she got started in end of life care back before the Medicare hospice benefit was established in the 1980’s.

Here are some highlights of this special episode:

  • Barbara thinks she should have been a social worker but her mother talked her into nursing.
  • She and her fellow hospice nurses learned how to provide their own self care without really knowing what it was.
  • Barbara’s aversion to causing patients any pain or suffering made patient care difficult for her.
  • She believes it’s important for hospice leadership to truly understand end of life work, and to have a comprehensive knowledge of hospice care.
  • Barbara believes sacred rituals and beautiful memories can be created at the time of death.  

Connect with Barbara Karnes:

Website: bkbooks.com

Blog:  bkbooks.com

Shop her products:  bkbooks.com

Socials:    Facebook     Instagram     LinkedIn     Twitter     Pinterest     YouTube

Email: [email protected]

Thank you to our series sponsor The Death Deck!  

Connect with the End of Life Deck and the Death Deck:

Website:  thedeathdeck.comhttps://thedeathdeck.com/

Shop:  End of Life Deck   Death Deck

Socials for the Death Deck:  Facebook   IG   Twitter (X)

Hospice Navigation Services is here for you.  If you have questions about hospice care or need to troubleshoot the care you’re already receiving, book a session with an expert Hospice Navigator at theheartofhospice.com.  

Connect with The Heart of Hospice Podcast and host Helen Bauer

Website:  theheartofhospice.com

Email:  [email protected]

More podcast episodes:  The Heart of Hospice Podcast





The Heart of Hospice Podcast

The Heart of Hospice podcast is dedicated to helping personal and professional caregivers who are caring for someone with serious illness. We're here to provide information and education so people can make informed choices about end of life care.