During National Nurses Week, May 6-12, Empath Health honors Paula Amesway, a registered nurse and clinical coach at Tidewell Hospice, a member of Empath Health. Paula’s dedication and compassion make a significant impact on her patients and their families as well as her colleagues at Tidewell’s Lakewood Ranch Hospice House.
From left, RN Maren Stevens, Clinical Coach Paula Amesway and Nurse Resident Melanie Bove at the Lakewood Ranch Hospice House.
Paula is a key figure in the Tidewell Hospice Nurse Residency Program, the first hospice-only nurse residency program accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission. She is making a profound difference by teaching new hospice nurses the heart and art of compassionate end-of-life care.
The nurse residency program introduces recent nursing school graduates to the hospice field through a 12-month curriculum. Paula hosts nurse residents for six months of hands-on training at the hospice house.
“I do teach them about compassion and empathy for the patient and the family,” Paula said. “It’s not just the patient going through a difficult time. It’s the families that are dealing with the emotions of it, too. We have to come with them and be kind and open.”
Paula’s journey to becoming a hospice nurse began with two deeply personal experiences. At age 13, her son suffered a serious burn injury and had to be hospitalized. The care he received from his nurses inspired Paula, who had been a medical transcriptionist, to explore a nursing career. Later, she witnessed firsthand the exceptional care her grandmother received while enrolled in hospice. Paula was driven by a desire to offer the same level of compassion and support to other families in need.
Paula said she was impressed by “the way they were so caring toward not only my grandmother but to me and my family. We had a huge family. They were there for each one of us. They were just there to make sure my grandmother had the most peaceful, beautiful death. The way they did her hair, bathed her, spoke to her, prayed with her. That really touched my heart. I thought, ‘That’s the kind of nurse I want to be.’”
Paula’s expertise and warmth make her a natural mentor in the nurse residency program. She takes great pride in guiding new hospice nurses and instilling in them the importance of providing holistic care to patients and support and education to their families during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives. Her teaching goes beyond medical knowledge; she encourages her students to truly connect with their patients and families, offering not only skilled care but also emotional support and understanding.
“Paula coaches us through any anxiety or worry or grief that we come with,” said Maren Stevens, a former nurse resident who has been hired as a staff RN at the Lakewood Ranch Hospice House. “She is there to experience each moment in real time and debrief. I think that’s one of the most important things about the residency is that we can come and debrief at any moment with her.”
Paula also works to dispel any negative or preconceived notions nurse residents might have about working in hospice.
“It is a rewarding position to bring patients through a difficult time to a peaceful death. When you’re born, you come into the world in a beautiful way. You should go out of the world in a beautiful way. Dying patients deserve that,” Paula said.
Both Maren and current nurse resident Melanie Bove have learned through Paula’s guidance and personal experience that hospice is a rewarding field.
“It is sad,” Maren said, “but we often leave here more filled up with love than with sadness because we’ve seen the best of family members being there for each other. We see people come together, and we get to provide that care.”
Said Melanie, “That’s my big surprise takeaway as a nurse resident. From my coworkers, from families, from patients, it’s just lovely and supportive.”
As we celebrate National Nurses Week, we recognize the exceptional contributions of Paula Amesway, whose work exemplifies the highest standards of nursing. Her compassion, commitment and expertise make her a role model for all nurses, and her influence on the Tidewell Nurse Residency Program is invaluable. Paula is an asset to Tidewell Hospice and the nursing profession, and her impact will continue to resonate with patients and families for years to come.
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