“People intentionally choose to become nurses to help patients meet their health needs,” even when the patient is actively dying. (Wu & Volker, 2012) Hospice nursing and palliative care nursing are both considered end-of-life care. However, hospice nursing care is generally provided to patients who have a terminal illness and have less than six months to live. Palliative care is generally provided to patients with a life-threatening illness and is used to improve the patient's quality of life. Choosing a career in hospice or palliative care nursing can be extremely difficult, but it will provide an opportunity for great personal growth. Sometimes, a terminally ill caregiver may feel responsible for their patient's death or may feel isolated due to a lack of support. Nurses new to this field should "feel that their unit recognizes death as a difficult event and that discussion of death is acceptable in the workplace." (Lewis, 2013) The most rewarding, and most difficult, part of being a hospice or palliative care nurse is the ability to be a part of the patient and their family's life, including loss, grief, and death . (Wu & Volker, 2012) End-of-Life Nursing Role and Responsibilities The primary goal of the end-of-life nurse is to provide comfort and compassion to patients and their families during an extremely difficult time. They must meet all the “physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual needs” of the patient and his family. (Wu & Volker, 2012) The nurse involves the patient in care planning, as well as educating the patient about available options. They must follow the wishes of the patient and his family, as provided in the patient's advance directive, if available. It's me... middle of the paper......CitedCandidate Handbook. (2013). National body for the certification of hospice and palliative care nurses. Retrieved November 23, 2013, from http://www.nbchpn.org/Ferguson. (2009). Career in focus. (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Ferguson. Green, P. (1984). The central role of the nurse in hospice care. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 34(4), 204-205. Lewis, K. (2013). How nurses can facilitate patients' transition to end-of-life care. Nursing for older adults, 25(8), 22-26.Wood, D. (2012, November - December). Hospice providers are increasing in number, enhancing services. Leading Age Magazine, 2. Retrieved November 23, 2013, from http://www.leadingage.org/Hospice_Providers_Increasing_in_Number_Boosting_Services_V2N6.aspx#.UpDl81nH1_Q.emailWu, H., & Volker, D. L. (2012). Humanistic nursing theory: Application to hospice and palliative care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(2), 471-479.