Heart of Hospice Nurse, Jena Miller, Recognized by Community for Outstanding Service and Care

Lafayette, LA, September 16, 2018 --(PR.com)-- Heart of Hospice nurse, Jena Miller, was recognized by local radio station, 97.3 The Dawg, as one of the “Elite 97” nurses in the Acadiana area.

Each year, 97.3 The Dawg hosts an Elite 97 contest to honor the nurses in the Lafayette region who have touched the lives of their patients and families by going above and beyond to serve them. The Elite 97 are chosen based on testimonies submitted by members of the community. This year, Jena Miller was recognized for the third time.

Jena Miller, often referred to as “The” hospice nurse by members of the Acadiana community, has been with Heart of Hospice for six years. When asked why she chooses to be a Heart of Hospice nurse, Jena said: “I knew early on in my nursing career that my goal was to become a hospice nurse. I still remember the moment that I knew hospice was for me. I was a cardiac nurse working in the hospital setting and had an elderly patient who had been slowly dying for a few months; she deserved a peaceful death but instead died on the ventilator connected to multiple machines in the hospital. I knew there had to be a better way and I wanted to be a part of it.”

One of the submitted testimonies said, “Jena is the type of person created in faith and spirit that works for her patients. She would work for free if she had to just so she could continue her mission and her promise to aid the sick as they transition into their journey. Never have I seen another human being give their life to others as I've witnessed her. The transition between life, hospice life and the afterlife can be and is traumatic, unsure, and in the end - peaceful time. Jena is their angel on earth."

Brandon Melancon, Heart of Hospice Regional Vice President of Operations in Louisiana, said, “From the moment Jena joined our team, I knew she was special. She has a contagious personality and a giving heart that allows her to connect with her patients and families on a personal level, yet at the same time, is heralded by the community and her coworkers as a hospice expert. Everyday her commitment to her patients serves as an example of what it means to be a Heart of Hospice nurse.”

Despite her passion for her work, she admits it doesn’t come without its difficulties, “The most challenging part of the job is caring for patients younger than me. They tug at my heart strings just a bit harder than other patients; however, I continue to serve as a nurse because I know that hospice is truly a wonderful, but misunderstood, benefit. Our main goal at Heart of Hospice is to improve our patients’ quality of life.”

Carla Davis, Chief Executive Officer for Heart of Hospice, said, “Jena lives our vision of what it means to transform lives. Her recognition by the community illustrates the impact we have on the lives of our patients and families. We are truly fortunate to have Jena as part of our Heart of Hospice care team and family.

About Heart of Hospice

Our vision is to transform end-of-life care in the communities we serve. We currently provide care to 15 regions across Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi. We believe all hospice eligible patients and those that love them deserve the best care at the end of life. Our mission is simple: to serve all patients and their loved ones the way they desire to be served.