After reading the different stories in the book “Final Gifts,” I believe I have a better understanding of the nurse's role in caring for the needs of the dying patient and how their families need to be guided through this experience. The different stories in this book provide insight into the experiences of the dying and how their loved ones cope with their loss. Authors Maggie Callahan and Patrician Kelly, experienced hospice nurses who have extensive experience with dying patients and their families, through their shared stories, paint a picture of what the dying want. For many, death is a difficult concept. As a nursing student, I have been somewhat exposed to death during patient care. My first encounter with direct death was seeing a patient die in the emergency room after attempting resuscitation. Observing the reactions of others, I noticed that I was the only one who seemed upset by the previous events and the final outcome, even if I didn't show it outwardly. During my aging and end-of-life clinical rotation, I was exposed to a near-death experience with a family and had the rewarding experience of forming a relationship with the patient's wife during the brief hour that I was at their house. Reading the accounts in this book confirmed to me the importance of providing for the needs of the family and the dying as an important issue to address as they are central to overall care. As a nurse, it is important to address a patient's needs during care. These needs are unique to each individual and by personalizing them, they allow patients to feel truly cared for. It is important to be informed about these needs as patients and their families look to you for guidance; thus, education about things that were in the middle of paper and died in the position of cradling a baby with a look of happiness on her face (Callanan, 1992, p. 191). This helped her family find comfort in the fact that she did not die alone and that she would be reunited with a loved one and this helped her family in the grieving process. The stories in this book were amazing to read. I expected to be a little depressed by so many stories of death, but I was inspired and learned a lot about how to communicate effectively. I was uplifted by the amount of compassion, love and kindness shared during times of grief. It is important to recognize that although people may be days or hours away from death, they are still individuals going through a transition, with unique emotions and sensations. Caregivers have the honor of being a part of families' lives, even if only for a short time, as they go through this experience with their dying loved one.