No one dies a program alone

Contribution by: Donna Medina, Director – OSF Hospice

“We are honored to be part of someone’s birth in this world, and it is just as great honor to be present when they were born in the next world.” – Sister Judith Ann Duvall, OSF, Major Superior

The idea of ​​a program No One Dies alone started many years ago at the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, Oregon, when nurse Sandra Clarke met a man she does not remember, but a man whom she would never forget.

He was one of his seven patients and was very close to death. When she made her first rounds, he asked, “Do you want to stay with me?” He was fragile, pale, old and trembling. She replied: “Of course, as soon as I check my other patients”.

After completing her vital signs on other patients, transmitting medication, assessing a new patient and taking many phone calls, she returned to her room. Almost two hours have passed. He was dead and she felt terrible. It was good for him to die, it was his time but not alone.

With the impact of this event, Sandra Clarke decided that she would be the instrument of change. It took years before the development of a real program. The first No One Dies program only started in June 2001. Since then, the concept of Noda has really responded to a need and programs can be found in the United States and also in Singapore and Japan.

Osf Home Care starts, no one dies a program alone

Seeing the need for such a program in our own community, OSF home care services began a limited NODA program in April 2009. The plan was simple. OSF home care would be associated with local healthcare establishments to provide volunteers formed for situations when someone is in the last hours of life and does not wish to be alone.

Noda is intended for patients in hospice and non-hospital workers who die without family or friends available.

Become a volunteer from Noda
No nurse competence is necessary to be a noda volunteer at Osf Home Care. We are looking for compassionate, attentive and dedicated people who can engage at least 2 to 4 hours a month and are ready to call during the time they choose.

All Noda volunteers are required to:

• request
• Interview
• Sign a job description
• Provide a physician’s physique
• Submit to a verification of criminal history
• Have a current TB test on the file (free service)
• Sign a confidentiality declaration
• Perform an additional two-hour orientation beyond the orientation of standard volunteering
• Follow all volunteer policies and procedures
• Provide availability to the volunteer coordinator

This program is not intended to replace nursing care. Volunteers are trained to sit down and offer the company and comfort only. The training of the NODA program is free.

OSF Home Care Services believes that when someone was born, he must be surrounded by love and feel the same thing when someone is dying. We do our best to provide this service.

Last update: December 4, 2018