What is palliative care? Is it only for people who are dying? What's the difference between palliative care and hospice, and when should families consider it?
In this episode of Health Recoded, I speak with Christina McDaniel, DNP, MSN, RN, about palliative care, end-of-life conversations, and how this approach to care can affect quality of life and patient outcomes.
Christina McDaniel is a nurse practitioner and system executive director of the palliative care team at the Medical University of South Carolina. We discuss what palliative care actually involves, why it's often misunderstood, and how it can support patients and families navigating serious illness.
We also explore how to talk about end-of-life care with loved ones, the emotional toll on caregivers and healthcare workers, and why our discomfort with death can make these conversations harder than they need to be. Christina shares perspectives on caregiver support, moral distress, and what it means to have a “good” death.
Whether you're trying to understand palliative care for yourself or a family member, preparing for difficult conversations, or simply learning how palliative care differs from hospice, this episode offers a starting point.
Find Cristina McDaniel, DNP, MSN, RN at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-mcdaniel-dnp-rn-8a6a8094/
Subscribe to Health Recoded for evidence-based conversations that help you better understand your body, your health, and the science behind how it works. New episodes weekly.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
10:24 What Is Often Misunderstood About Palliative Care and Death?
14:16 What Is a “Death-Denying” Society?
18:51 How to Take Care of the Caregiver
25:07 How to Talk About End-of-Life Care as a Caregiver
28:18 How to Talk About End-of-Life Care With Family
36:03 Moral Distress in Healthcare Workers and Caregivers
44:49 How Palliative Care Affects Health Outcomes
49:29 Palliative Care vs. Hospice: What's the Difference?
55:54 What to Expect From Palliative Care
58:48 What Is a “Good” Death?
1:01:42 Key Takeaways
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for guidance provided by your own medical professional.
