Cynthia McGill, Licensed Practical Nurse, Hospice Residence

“Hospice is so much more than a job. Your heart really has to be in it.”

Diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of two, Cynthia spent most of her childhood in the hospital—which is very likely what inspired her to become a nurse. “I know what it’s like when you ring the bell and the nurse doesn’t come, and how much of a difference a caring nurse can make when you’re a patient,” she says. Cynthia has had a richly varied nursing career during her 15 years at VNSNY, but she especially loves her current role as a hospice nurse at the Goodman Brown Residence. “My mother and mother-in-law both passed away on the VNSNY hospice program, so I know firsthand how great it is,” she notes. “There’s a lot of misconception about hospice care because of its association with death, but it’s really about comforting the patients and their families—holding their hands and helping them understand what is happening. This is so much more than a job. Your heart really has to be in it.” Hospice nursing is also about striking the right balance between being empathic while at the same time providing care in a professional manner, she adds. “You have to give a lot of emotional support, but you also have to stay in your lane—whether this means not letting yourself get too involved or too sad, or keeping your personal opinions and belief systems on the other side of the door.”