Hospice Nurse Julie Goes Viral on Social Media

Hospice Nurse Julie talks about death and dying on social media.

Julie McFadden, aka Hospice Nurse Julie, knows what to expect when someone dies. She has witnessed hundreds of deaths throughout her 5-year career as a hospice nurse in California. McFadden felt compelled to share interesting stories and insights into her job. She posts regularly as Hospice Nurse Julie across several platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. Nearly a million followers and several million likes later, McFadden aspires to fulfill her mission to normalize the process of death by educating the public about it.

Fully embracing the unique role she plays in people’s lives, McFadden spends her days helping caregivers to understand what to expect of their loved one’s death before it happens. In a recent USA Today interview, McFadden shares, “To be able to provide somebody with answers and comfort and care, and to help that process be easier, it feels like a gift.”

The transition to social media as Hospice Nurse Julie was a way to expand that role to the masses. Her Facebook banner reads, “It’s normal to fear death. Let’s talk about it anyways.” TikTok video titles like “No, It’s Not the Meds,” “Terminal Agitation,” and “The Rally” showcase direct answers to many common questions about end of life. These stories can be validating for those who are caring for, or have cared for, a loved one.

Nurses, caregivers, and families share personal or intimate end-of-life stories of their own on these various threads. The majority shower Hospice Nurse Julie with appreciation. Comments include “Keep doing what you’re doing,” and “This is absolutely awesome for people who lost someone.” Similar sentiments fill her social media feeds to the brim with gratitude.

Hospice Nurse Julie covers every possible topic relating to death.

Hospice Nurse Julie also shares the tougher parts of her job with viewers. Healthcare systems, time restraints and red tape are a few examples. McFadden’s platform gives her the ability to bring awareness to the many pitfalls that befall  healthcare providers. In a recent Newsweek article, she offers further insight into results caused by such limitations: “Most of the time, we do an excellent job at alleviating pain and suffering at the end-of-life, but sometimes it’s harder than others to do so, and that can be a very tough part of the job.”

Hospice Nurse Julie’s caring, insightful, yet matter-of-fact explanations for nearly every end-of-life milestone is a must-see for anyone traversing this sector of life. Check out this in-depth interview with McFadden via EndWell Project, a non-profit dedicated to the belief that all people should experience the end of life in a way that matches their values and goals.