The NODA (No One Dies Alone) program stands out as one of the most beautiful initiatives in the last three decades. It’s a simple yet profound concept: volunteers or nurses sit with patients facing the end of their lives, offering comfort and companionship until they pass away. For all of us death is a scary moment, sometime we can’t imagine how to face it. But we all have to face this moment.
If someone with us during our last moment..
NODA was born out of a nurse’s regretful experience in 1986. Sandra Clarke, a nurse at a hospital where she worked, was on her way to work her night shift. Since there are fewer nurses on duty at night and most patients are asleep, night shifts can be more challenging because medication needs to be administered on time.
Sandra’s experience was the inspiration for this admirable initiative.
Sandra’s head nurse advised her that a patient was not responding to treatment and would not be receiving CPR; as a result, Sandra should anticipate this patient’s death. She went to see the patient, who had politely requested to stay with her. Although Sandra had other patients to tend to, she promised her that she would return as soon as she was giving medication for the others. After about sixty minutes, she went back to the patient as she had promised, who was lying with his arm stretched out seemingly in the hope of someone to take his hand. Unfortunately, Sandra arrived too late the patient had passed away already. Sandra expressed her sadness and anger at not being able to stay with the patient when he was dying in a 2013 interview with the Mayo Clinic.
NODA program spread throughout the world
The NODA program has expanded from its modest beginnings, providing comfort to countless people in hospitals and hospices across the entire world. Sandra’s idea has grown into a compassionate lighthouse, with volunteers providing solace to those at the end of their lives.
Especially in the pandemics, these types of concepts are very important.
Especially in times like the pandemic, the importance of programs like NODA becomes even more evident. When limitations stop loved ones from being at their sides, these volunteers assist and offer the much-needed human connection.
supporting programs such as NODA is about providing each person’s dignity and worth, even in their last moments, not merely about relieving the burden on medical personnel.
