Penny Smith

And I really was at a time in my life where I just wanted to make up for all the things that I had done when I was younger and kind of be more productive in society and give back to the universe. And so when trying to decide what kind of a nurse I wanted to be, I thought about my former stepmother-in-law who had died a year before I went to nursing school. She was on hospice.

I felt like the nurses were just very gifted in what they did. The work was sacred. It felt like really special work to me. So I knew that's what I was going to want to do. I also had severe death anxiety.

I felt like the nurses were just very gifted in what they did. The work was sacred. It felt like really special work to me. So I knew that's what I was going to want to do. I also had severe death anxiety.

I felt like the nurses were just very gifted in what they did. The work was sacred. It felt like really special work to me. So I knew that's what I was going to want to do. I also had severe death anxiety.

Yeah. Like I said, my husband would say, well, if there's nothing after we die and you'll have to worry because you'll be dead. And, um, So I always say jokingly, that's what led to our divorce. But so I kind of had a morbid curiosity, a fascination with death. And then I thought maybe this will be like, was it immersion therapy when you expose yourself to something? Maybe that'll help.

Yeah. Like I said, my husband would say, well, if there's nothing after we die and you'll have to worry because you'll be dead. And, um, So I always say jokingly, that's what led to our divorce. But so I kind of had a morbid curiosity, a fascination with death. And then I thought maybe this will be like, was it immersion therapy when you expose yourself to something? Maybe that'll help.

Yeah. Like I said, my husband would say, well, if there's nothing after we die and you'll have to worry because you'll be dead. And, um, So I always say jokingly, that's what led to our divorce. But so I kind of had a morbid curiosity, a fascination with death. And then I thought maybe this will be like, was it immersion therapy when you expose yourself to something? Maybe that'll help.

I was right, by the way. Uh, so I, um, I became a licensed practical nurse first and I did not think I could work as a hospice nurse being a licensed practical nurse. So I went to work in a clinic and then I was there for a year, then went to work in a hospital for a couple months, got laid off. They lay off LPNs frequently.

I was right, by the way. Uh, so I, um, I became a licensed practical nurse first and I did not think I could work as a hospice nurse being a licensed practical nurse. So I went to work in a clinic and then I was there for a year, then went to work in a hospital for a couple months, got laid off. They lay off LPNs frequently.

I was right, by the way. Uh, so I, um, I became a licensed practical nurse first and I did not think I could work as a hospice nurse being a licensed practical nurse. So I went to work in a clinic and then I was there for a year, then went to work in a hospital for a couple months, got laid off. They lay off LPNs frequently.

And during that time had met somebody new and there was a hospice care center in his neighborhood. And I thought, well, you know what? I should just go see if they're hiring LPNs. And they were. And so I was hired. And then I loved it so much, I stayed with it. And through the years, I got my RN, my BSN, and my certification in hospice and palliative care nursing.

And during that time had met somebody new and there was a hospice care center in his neighborhood. And I thought, well, you know what? I should just go see if they're hiring LPNs. And they were. And so I was hired. And then I loved it so much, I stayed with it. And through the years, I got my RN, my BSN, and my certification in hospice and palliative care nursing.

And during that time had met somebody new and there was a hospice care center in his neighborhood. And I thought, well, you know what? I should just go see if they're hiring LPNs. And they were. And so I was hired. And then I loved it so much, I stayed with it. And through the years, I got my RN, my BSN, and my certification in hospice and palliative care nursing.

And I've pretty much been in it ever since. So that's like my whole life story condensed down for you.

And I've pretty much been in it ever since. So that's like my whole life story condensed down for you.

And I've pretty much been in it ever since. So that's like my whole life story condensed down for you.

Still, it's probably too long.

Still, it's probably too long.

Still, it's probably too long.

Almost five. It'll be five years in October.