Hospice is end-of-life care. While many patients in the United States die in hospitals, many more prefer to end their journey on earth in the comfort of their own homes. The hospice nurse, therefore, is there to assist the patient and family during those final days. While some of the nurses and hospice caregivers’ experiences are spiritual and peaceful, other experiences can be painful, dangerous or even hazardous to their health. One Foot In Heaven is one hospice nurse’s journey and the multitude of experiences she faced during her days of helping people as they prepared for death.

Having read and enjoyed other selections from The Lotus Circle, I was excited to see that there was a new release listed on the site, intriguingly titled One Foot In Heaven. Seeing that it was about nursing automatically engaged me as I am a registered nurse. When I read that the book was about one woman’s journey as a hospice nurse, it seemed almost a sign as I’ve been considering leaving nursing administration for clinical duties once again, with hospice nursing a foremost option in my mind.

From the very first page I was hooked. Whether discussing details of someone’s death, their family dynamics, their home environments or their own idiosyncrasies, I eagerly read on, wanting to know more. The stories Ms. Telpner has shared with her readers evoked such a plethora of emotions. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I was disgusted, and those intimately cohesive moments with her patients and their families were so strong in my heart they were fairly palpable. I also felt deep respect for this author who calls death what it is—death—and doesn’t sugar coat it by calling it ‘passing’ or ‘moving on’.

It isn’t so uncommon to pick up a book by a new author, or one that’s new to a reader, and find it quite good. It is rare, however, to come across a book that stays with one’s spirit long after the last page has been turned. Thank you, Ms. Telpner, for sharing your journey. You are an inspiration to me, and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to readers everywhere, not only those in the medical field, but also those who know nothing about patient care.

Reviewed by: Bella