EP54: Barbara Karnes, RN: The 40 Year Journey to Becoming The Most Sought After End of Life Innovator

 
 
 

In today’s episode, I’m happy to share a truly extraordinary guest, Barbara Karnes, RN. Barbara is an internationally recognized author, speaker, thought leader, and expert on end of life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara was recognized in 2018 as a Hospice Innovator by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and was named the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year by the World Humanitarian Awards.

In this conversation we talk about the very personal and holistic approach Barbara takes to some of the most devastating moments in our lives. She shares her feeling that even if we can no longer heal the physical body, there is still opportunity to heal the emotional, spiritual and mental aspects of a person.

Barbara shares some of the pivotal moments of her childhood and early adulthood, including challenging family dynamics and a traumatic miscarriage, that have informed her work in end of life care. We also speak about the differences in experience when we lose someone younger vs. when they are later in life. During that part of the conversation I share some of my own personal stories of loss and the new insights I found through Barbara’s insights and thoughts on the topic.

“We are treating diseases that people have, instead of the people that have the diseases."(Click to tweet!) 

~ Barbara Karnes, RN

This is an extremely important conversation at any time, and yet even more so now given what our world is currently facing. Many are dealing with end of life care and the restrictions placed in health care these days because of COVID have made this time of life feel more isolated and lonely. Barbara reassures us that we are never alone at the time of death, and shares some stories to illustrate that idea. I’m certain this conversation will bring you as much comfort as it brought to me.  

I can’t tell you how grateful I am for Barbara’s work and this conversation. My hope is that after this conversation you feel you know Barbara and the reasons behind why she does this incredible work. She gave so many gifts during this conversation, including to me personally that I was not expecting. Please share your insights and everything you got out of this one of a kind conversation.

If you are needing support during this pandemic, I invite you to join my free Facebook Group that I have created for you. It is so important to me that we are ready to exit the Waiting Room when it’s time to re-enter our new lives on the other side of this.

More About Barbara Karnes, RN

Barbara Karnes, RN, is an internationally recognized author, speaker, thought leader, and expert on end of life care and the dynamics of dying. Barbara was recognized in 2018 as a Hospice Innovator by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and was named the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year by the World Humanitarian Awards.

Barbara’s experience as a hospice care provider at the bedside of hundreds of people, and as an administrator overseeing the care of thousands, led to the 1985 publication of Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience. Affectionately referred to in the industry as the “little blue hospice book,” Gone from My Sight has sold over 25 million copies worldwide, is published in 12 languages, and remains the leading resource on the market today educating families on the signs of approaching death. 

In 2015, Barbara’s film New Rules for End of Life Care was featured in film festivals around the world and was the recipient of 10 prestigious film awards.

You can connect with her via her website, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Listen to Episode 54 Below:

 
 
 
 
 
 

Things We Mention In This Episode

 
 
 
 
 
 

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Christina Rasmussen