One Foot In Heaven, Journey of a Hospice Nurse Paperback – November 3, 2013

I have been on the medical field and this is one of the best books I have ever read. The subject matter is sensitive but if you are in the heart field I strongly suggest this book.

This book is a testament to hospice nurse’s work and the love and commitment it takes to do the job. It’s full of beautiful stories of patients last days but it could be better written as there are grammatical errors, misspellings and a jump around style of writing.

This book is exceptional. The writing is easy to read and understand. The author goes into much detail about her life experiences as a nurse. It makes you appreciate nurses all the more

I learned much from this book. The author shares her many years as a hospice nurse with both the joys and sorrows of helping patients ‘cross over’. Heidi imparts her knowledge and experience to anyone who may be dealing with hospice care, now or in the futureHeidi also shares the experience of her own death and revival. She wants us to know that even though each of us will have a unique experience of dying, death itself is not to be feared.

Humour despite impending sadness was the most striking feature of this beautiful book ... closely followed by the deep compassion and empathy which shone through. I view the book as essential reading for any health care professional because they all have to deal with grief, grieving, bereavement, and loss of life as an almost daily occurrence. Life comes to an end for each one of us and each family member and friend. This book also reminds us that; holding grudges, unreconciled fractures in relationships, unforgiveness make our final farewells traumatic when they do not need to be.A beautiful book, written beautifully by a beautiful person!

Beautiful journey of a wonderful hospice nurse. Great writing with detail experiences. Looking forward to read more from this author.

As a previous HOSPICE HHA, except for the initials after our names I could of written this book. I always felt that we as HOSPICE personal are welcomed into a very personal & even private time in the dying persons & families lives. I found it a great pleasure to be requested by patients and family during their final hours. Unlike nurses we were not on call to respond to a home of a patient, but not once did I deny a call, regardless of the time,weather or Holidays. I was greatly blessed that I was employed by an agency that allowed such things.(many sadly do not, families & patients would request only to hear...”There not working right now”) there are countless experiences of witnessing those close to death seeing loved ones, that have gone before them or angels. On 2 occasions I witnessed patients who became absolutely terrified from what was coming to get them. I cannot stress enough to loved ones or caregivers to allow spiritual leaders be contacted at the request of a patient...it can make a difference of how they leave this earth...@ peace or fear. I have experienced seeing the soul leave a dying one, and felt the warmth of a light unseen to me.The author was able to share those things that made the differences in her life and those she came in contact with, those like memories. Even those that filled her with fear for her own safety & those whom more concerned about golf games & parties, than a dying person in their home.Is HOSPICE “work” for everyone? No! Are all HOSPICE Agencies perfect in providing in fulfilling the mission? Sadly no... I to witnessed the power plays of those in leadership with those in the trenches who see everything going on in homes. All in the name of profit Yet call themselves non-profit. Or personal feelings towards a employee. I have also seen the loss of many incredible staff due to computerized charting.Thank you for such a wonderful book that can explain the truth of what happens during the most important time in many lives & deaths.

This book made me cry, but I’m a good way. I hope when my time comes, I have a nurse just like Heidi to shepherd me to the other side.

Not sure that this was a good choice of book to read in my current condition, but hey, life is all about taking a risk, isn't it. In the end it didn't make me feel any worse. Indeed like most of those dying in the book, I accept my fate with equanimity and really have done so since the moment the surgeon told me, "I can operate but the thoracic surgeon who needs to be working on you at the same time as me and the consulting anaesthetist also feel that your chances of surviving the eight and half hour surgery that it will take to cut that foot long tumour out, are slim to none."I have to say it was a little disappointing to be told that, and I did shed a tear or two, but only because Ishbel was in the room with me and SHE burst into tears, which set me off. But all in all at 57, while not quite ready to die, I have come close to it on any number of occasions in the past and so wasn't too surprised that it had finally caught up with me......But this is a book review and not about me although I do feel/ hope that it highlights the positivity of what you would probably think of, by looking at the fly leaf of this relatively short volume and think, death equals doom and gloom equals depressive reading.Not at all, Ms Telpner, (and I do have to confess at this juncture, to knowing the author and she hadn't told me she had produced this book, as an RN specialising in Hospice Care) I imagine, decided to write about her patients and the specialist care they need as a means to show that death, like life itself, should not frighten those who are coming to the end of theirs and nor should families and loved ones fear what is to come.My understanding of hospice Care was people going into a 'home or unit' to live out their final days, weeks or months. I am not sure if that is the case now even here in the UK as even in my condition I haven't actually considered that far ahead and so have not looked into it at all. But here, the author informs us that this is not the norm in the US and that Hospice Care normally involves the patient being looked after at home with Hospice Carers visiting as often as required to tend to the patient and to support the family. She describes a variety of cases frankly that go from the sublime to the ridiculous; some with loving caring family rallying round, supporting the dying from both poor and wealthy backgrounds to the downright crazy of visiting the dying relatives of 'caring' drug producer/dealers and occasionally to the dying with relatives who all find it such an inconvenience.It is a little surreal in places, as Ms Telpner has both strong beliefs and views. Me on the other hand, while I wasn't particularly religious at any point in my life although have been known to read the scriptures from the lectern on more than one church attendance, I can't say I every fully believed in an all powerful god of any denomination. But, what I can say with some certainty is that when the author talks about and refers to 'out of body' experiences, I am a believer in those, having experienced one myself circa 1999/2000 when I had been engaged to run a car park operation at Scotland's premier outdoor event, T in The Park. I became so stressed out over the course of the week/ weekend that during a briefing to my senior operational staff I suddenly became aware of floating above myself and those present and watching from above as my deputy grasped me and sat me down while he continued the briefing.Is it stress on becoming aware that you are close to death or just stressful situations that bring you closer to these experiences. Clearly from the authors patients point of view it is probably a combination of both and while my experience was borne from the stress of the operational requirements for the event I am not sure if this then leads on to a belief in an afterlife!I found the book, in parts quite moving and in other places a little disturbing, only because of what might be my future, but through it all it was clear that the author is a person with deep feelings for those who were entrusted to her through Hospice Care and it seems a shame but entirely understandable that due to later incidents that she has taken a 'sabbatical' from a calling that she was clearly meant to be involved in.This book clearly isn't for everyone but I don't think I would hesitate to recommend it to a family member who has someone close to them who is dying. It gives insights into what you can expect to cope with in terms of your loved ones body beginning to shut down and the problems that you will have to cope with and reminds you that while their body may be shutting down that in many cases their minds are still active and lucid and that WE know what is happening but can't always communicate that to you whom we love. Give it a go, if becomes too much for you you can always put it down...Editing for Kindle: 5 out 5Reading Enjoyment:Plot:Overall Rating: 5 out of 5Chapters: 5Page length: 148

About 4% into the Kindle book - She talks of a 'very polite gentleman (she had assigned herself) who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer' and proceeds to relate how he 'landed in Coronary Care'. She proceeds to tell us how he 'coded' - had no heartbeat but was wide awake. He had to be 'shocked' and was pronounced dead WHILE HE WAS AWAKE and went through CPR, cracked ribs, the whole emergency team walking out of the room and leaving our story teller with him STILL AWAKE. I asked my paramedic son if this is possible and he said 'not at all'. I didn't believe it when I read it and it has made me doubt the rest of the book.The reason I have given 3 stars is because many of the stories given are enthralling and touching but I can't help wondering if the author has abused dramatic licence to the extreme and risks losing credibility with this story.Maybe I'm missing something here - maybe she is seeing all this with a 'psychic eye' but I don't think so.

I couldn’t put the book down. It was real, factual and totally gripped you. A must read book. So many actual “true life” accounts.

I would recommend this book for someone who have a friend or a relative going through the process of dyeing. It gives you a good insight with good and bad experiences and a good understanding of the process of dyeing. Sometimes a little to descriptive of a situation but a very human vision.

This is real life (and death) written with love, respect, kindness and humour! The author shares her personal thoughts and expierences in her job as a hospice nurse. It shows a side of life many of us don't see until someone close dies. Good read.