More Than Medicine: Thankful for Advanced Care Providers in Hospice and Palliative Care

A reflection by Jessica Bumgarner, NP – PCNOW Board of Directors

This season—and every day—we give thanks for the advanced care providers (ACPs) who embody the true spirit of care: healing not only the body, but also the heart.

In November 2021, I transitioned to a nurse practitioner (NP) in Hospice Care after previously serving as a registered nurse in hospice. When I first stepped into this new role, I thought my main responsibilities would be managing symptoms and ensuring comfort at the end of life. While that remains the heart of what I do, I have come to realize the cornerstone includes being present, compassionate, and guiding patients and their families to find peace during the most difficult moments imaginable.

Each day, I meet people at a deeply vulnerable time. Visits often begin with a quiet knock on the door, a kind smile, and a gentle conversation to help bridge the space between clinical care and human connection. I listen—to pain, stories, fears, and goals. While I frequently adjust medications and ease physical symptoms, often I simply sit in silence, offer a human connection, or help a family understand what is happening as their loved one’s body begins to let go. The reality is, true comfort care goes beyond prescriptions and medical recommendations. It is about treating the whole person, not just the illness. It is about respecting their values, supporting their choices, while helping them maintain dignity and control, even at the end of life.

The work is both emotionally demanding and profoundly meaningful. I have witnessed moments of reconciliation, forgiveness, and love that remind me why I happily chose this path. Hospice care has taught me we cannot always cure, but we can always care. Each visit ends with a calm that feeds my soul, knowing I was able to help someone live their final days with comfort, peace, and respect.

During this season of gratitude, I want to give recognition to my colleagues, all ACPs, who deserve special recognition for their service in hospice and palliative care. These dedicated nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) not only bring medical expertise but deep compassion to one of life’s most difficult moments.

In hospice and palliative care, the focus softly shifts from curing disease to providing comfort, dignity, and peace. ACPs play a vital role in managing pain, easing symptoms, and supporting both patients and their families through complex emotional and spiritual challenges. Their ability to listen, explain options with clarity, and be present with empathy makes an immeasurable difference in the lives they touch.

Beyond clinical skill, these providers offer a steady hand and a caring heart. They help patients live fully in each remaining day and help families find meaning and comfort amid loss. Their work reminds us that even in the face of serious illness, compassion and human connection can be powerful forms of healing.