Staff Spotlight: Becky Dominy, Patient Care Coordinator

Compassionate care begins the moment a family reaches out for support, and Becky is often the first reassuring presence they meet. As a dedicated Hospice Admissions Nurse, she helps guide patients and their loved ones through the transition to hospice care with warmth, understanding, and expertise. With a deep commitment to ensuring comfort and dignity, Becky plays a vital role in making each patient’s journey as smooth and supportive as possible. Read more to learn about Becky’s passion for hospice care and the impact she makes every day.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR ROLE AT HOSPICE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY?

I was born and raised in the North Country, having lived her 40+ years. At Hospice of the North Country, I have had the honor of working with many amazing people over my last 12+ years. Case management was my start and then I transitioned to a referral/admissions nurse role.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH HOSPICE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WORK IN HOSPICE CARE?

I have worked for Hospice going on to my 13th year this summer. My nursing career began as most, at the local hospital. The Oncology floor led me to the beginning of my journey, working with cancer patients and assisting them to transition toward ongoing treatment or toward a more palliative plan. The stress of floor life, yielded me to find a position at the ARC, where I thought I had found my ‘niche.’ While there, I found myself training the End-of-Life course. I had always wanted to ‘avoid’ that topic, but it always kept finding me. After the ARC, I felt lost, unsure of where to go in nursing. Then an old co-worker of mine recommended Hospice, explaining that she felt I would be a good ‘fit’ there. I haven’t turned back since.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?

My favorite part of the job is getting to be able to meet so many wonderful individuals from any and all walks of life, to be able to help them to find comfort in something that can be so scary and overwhelming.

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST REWARDING ABOUT WORKING IN HOSPICE CARE?

One of the most rewarding things about working in Hospice care, is being able to be with individuals in their environment, to assist them to be able to remain in their environment with supports in place to ensure that anything scary or overwhelming will be able to be managed in their own home, with their family/care TEAM by their side the entire way, without all of the bells and whistles of being in a hospital.

HOW DO YOU SUPPORT PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING DIFFICULT TIMES?

When you have been given a prognosis of 6 months or less, it can provoke all sorts of emotions. I do my best to allow individuals an environment that they can feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings, honestly and openly, together.  There are no wrong questions in this line of work…only the question that wasn’t asked.

CAN YOU SHARE A MEMORABLE OR MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE YOU’VE HAD IN YOUR ROLE?

One of my favorite moments in Hospice was back when I was a case manager. Census was low, which allowed us to be able to spend a bit more time with our patients than we normally had the opportunity for. I had a patient with advancing neurological disease and one of her favorite things to do, was to be able to go outside and take a walk. She hadn’t been able to get ‘out’ for quite some time. The day was perfect…the sun was shining so very brightly that day…a Spring day where it hit almost 60 outside, and we were able to get her into the wheelchair and we wandered her local road. She was able to reminisce over the many memories of that street in the only way that she could, sharing her love, hopes and original dreams while being able to feel the sunshine on her face and have the feel of the cool Spring breeze on her face.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT HOSPICE CARE?

Hospice is not something of which to be afraid. It is a resource, for that time in your life when you want a more palliative, comfort directed approach to your care, pursuing less hospitalizations and MD visits, allowing you to live your life to the best of your ability. It empowers you to have knowledge, support and guidance through the avenues of a progressing illness.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Outside of work, I enjoy the ability to enjoy nature at its’ finest, taking walks in the woods, at Point Au Roche or even just down the road.

WHAT’S ONE THING YOUR COWORKERS MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I absolutely love knitting. In the last few years I have needed an outlet of sorts…and knitting has been a great outlet and a skill that will continue to grow.

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN HOSPICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Hospice is a difficult career. However, it can also be one of the most rewarding careers that you can ever imagine. To be able to help individuals through something that is so scary, yet something that we ALL must experience once in our lifetime, is such a special opportunity, and a gift, to all, to be present for the journey and to support through that difficult journey. A more loving gift, cannot be given.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE OR MOTTO THAT INSPIRES YOU?

A patient of mine shared this poem with me and it has remained a mainstay in my travels through Hospice.

Desiderata: Original Text

This is the original text from the book where Desiderata was first published.

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

by Max Ehrmann ©1927