From aerospace manufacturing to health care, this hospice nurse found his true calling

Kevin Ross didn’t start out in health care. Far from it. With a degree in computer science, Ross was using his talents working for an aerospace manufacturer. When a friend’s mother, who was a nurse, encouraged him to find a job that brought him joy, he not only listened to her, he also found his life’s calling.

“I’ve come to conclude that eventually we need to take care of each other, and we’ve got to keep that in mind when we have our complaints every day,” Ross said.

Over the years, Ross has held various positions in different health care departments, from working with veterans, which he called “a very beautiful experience,” to the Emergency Department to the cardiovascular unit. Eventually, he found his way to Mercy in 2007.

Working in hospice

For the last five years, Ross has been working in hospice as an intake nurse who helps patients and their loved ones prepare for the final phase of life, answering questions and getting them ready and comfortable.

Though working in hospice has its challenges, with each new situation there is deep satisfaction in being able to guide patients and provide support and comfort during the end-of-life care. For some, the transition is difficult. However, others have made peace with it and are accepting.

“The best times are when you go in to meet a little 95-year-old lady who says, ‘I’m ready. I had a beautiful life, and I’m ready for the next step.’ She’s standing tall, and she’s got her head up, walking into glory. That’s the best. We all need love at the end.”

Hospice nurses often develop close relationships with their patients. In fact, Ross remembers fondly the nurse who separately took care of his own parents when they reached hospice. Both of his parents had dementia and, during the end of their lives, Mercy sent a compassionate hospice nurse to their house. Ross saw firsthand the integral role of the caregiver as they cared for and comforted his ailing parents. It was this experience that influenced his decision to work in hospice.

Honored for his care

During what started with a standard hospice patient intake process, Ross got to know the patient and her longtime partner. He learned that their wish was to get married before the patient passed. With limited time, Ross helped arrange the ceremony in less than 24 hours with the family at the patient’s home, and Ross was even able to attend. The patient passed just 24 hours after the wedding.

For that willingness to go above and beyond, Mercy South honored Ross with the DAISY Award, an international program that recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary skills and compassionate care given by nurses every day. The DAISY Foundation supports this honor in more than 1,900 health care facilities in all 50 states.

Transitioning to PRN

Ross will soon be transitioning to a PRN nurse. He is inching closer to retirement and looks forward to spending more time with his wife. With this new schedule, he will only work when called to fill in for an absent co-worker or to cover a special situation a few times a month.

For now, Ross is grateful for the time he has left in health care.

According to him, “Those little moments of joy and fellowship that you get — I don’t think you get in any other career.”

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