DOULA NETWORK:  SAM MOURNING, LPN, CEOLS

• Licensed Practical Nurse, State of Colorado
• Certified End of Life Specialist through Doing Death Differently
• Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University
• Associate of General Studies degree from Pikes Peak Community College
• Associate of Science degree in Communication from Community College of the Air Force

• End-of-Life consulting and advice, either in-home (in the Colorado Springs area) or via teleconference nationwide
• Assistance with interviewing and selecting the appropriate hospice provider
• Assistance with end-of-life planning
• Participation in final vigil

After almost 30 years in military and engineering environments, I elected to attend nursing school and received my nursing license in 2015. Almost all my healthcare experience has been as a hospice CNA or Nurse. I have 2 years of service as a CNA on a Hospice Inpatient Unit, 3 years as a floor nurse in that same environment, and another 2 years of experience as a home health hospice nurse. During my time as a hospice nurse, I learned much about the dying process. From technical knowledge, such as how to recognize and treat terminal agitation, to how to put a family’s mind at ease about giving their loved one some real solitude. It also became apparent that most of my patients and families didn’t need therapy, they simply needed an explanation of what was happening, and they needed someone they could trust to explain “things” to them.

I believe patients and their families can reap very meaningful benefits by having ready access to an experienced, end of life care professional who can shine some light in the dark corners of the path to dying. When many of the fears and misconceptions have been eliminated, both the patient and family can relax and experience the process together in a much more natural and meaningful way.