The medical professional says that patients 'feel comforted' by the common experience.
A hospice nurse has revealed the one thing that many of her patients experience in the lead up to their death.
Julie McFadden, who works as a Hospice/Pallative Care nurse in Los Angeles, appeared on the Skeptic Metaphysician podcast to talk about her experience with people in the latter stages of their lives, with the hope of normalising death for people.
Julie, who previously worked as an ICU nurse, revealed that around one month before an individual passes, they begin seeing memories from their life in the form of people who have already passed 'coming to them'.
"One of the main things that happens to almost everybody - it's usually about a month before they die. They start seeing people who've already died," she said.
"It is always people who bring them comfort, so I say family members, but only family members if you have a good relationship with them," she continued.
"It's people who have already died and they come to them - it's sometimes dreams but usually physically - and they will say 'I'm coming to get you soon, you don't have to worry about anything'."
Julie added that the vision could also be an individual's pet.
"Most people who experience this are completely lucid, they're alert and oriented, they are not actively dying and hallucinating," she said. "It's a very distinct thing that happens."
The hospice nurse has published a book called Nothing To Fear, which details her discoveries and insights into the experience of dying, gained through her work.
She also runs a TikTok account where she interacts with her 1.5 million followers and answers questions about death and it's preliminaries.
Reacting to her comments on the podcast, one viewer wrote: "My mom saw and heard her sister and aunt. They brought both of us comfort. She didn't feel alone or scared."
"This is so comforting" added another.
One other viewer commented: "My pets. I can't wait to see them."
"Thanks for sharing your knowledge , it’s very helpful," another viewer said.
One of the standout lines from Julie's interview is as follows: "Our bodies are naturally built to die. And ultimately, as weird as this sounds, it's beautiful."
Julie says that her aim in speaking about her experiences and sharing insights from her career is to make people feel more comfortable about the inevitability of life coming to an end.
Her perspective on death challenges the common fear and avoidance of the topic.
Julie believes that by accepting death as a natural part of life, we can learn to appreciate the beauty in the process.
While death may still be difficult and painful for those left behind, her approach offers a sense of comfort and acceptance.
Is the era of body positivity over? I watch Love Actually and Bridget Jones’s Diary every Christmas, and they are two films I never truly get sick of. That is, until both Natalie and Bridget are mocked for being ‘fat’. Both Natalie and Bridget are probably a size 10, and even if they weren’t, they […]
It’s really that easy. Christmas is a time for enjoying dinners with loved ones, and for many a night out, especially here in Ireland. During this time, you might notice that friends and members of your family are choosing not to drink, or even just taking it a little easier when it comes to the […]
Is the era of body positivity over? I watch Love Actually and Bridget Jones’s Diary every Christmas, and they are two films I never truly get sick of. That is, until both Natalie and Bridget are mocked for being ‘fat’. Both Natalie and Bridget are probably a size 10, and even if they weren’t, they […]
It’s really that easy. Christmas is a time for enjoying dinners with loved ones, and for many a night out, especially here in Ireland. During this time, you might notice that friends and members of your family are choosing not to drink, or even just taking it a little easier when it comes to the […]
Is the era of body positivity over? I watch Love Actually and Bridget Jones’s Diary every Christmas, and they are two films I never truly get sick of. That is, until both Natalie and Bridget are mocked for being ‘fat’. Both Natalie and Bridget are probably a size 10, and even if they weren’t, they […]
It’s really that easy. Christmas is a time for enjoying dinners with loved ones, and for many a night out, especially here in Ireland. During this time, you might notice that friends and members of your family are choosing not to drink, or even just taking it a little easier when it comes to the […]
Christmas can be a difficult time for many, especially those with eating disorders. While Christmas can be a happy time for some, many people dread the festive period and feel anxious as the holidays approach. This is particularly true if you or a loved one is experiencing an eating disorder. Around this time of year, […]
Christmas can be a difficult time for many, especially those with eating disorders. While Christmas can be a happy time for some, many people dread the festive period and feel anxious as the holidays approach. This is particularly true if you or a loved one is experiencing an eating disorder. Around this time of year, […]
Vintage baby names are proving more popular than ever Choosing a name for your little one is never an easy task, but looking into baby name trends can always help whittle down your options. Irish names, three-letter names, and vintage names appear to be some of the most popular at the moment. New mums are […]
Fancy some winter sun or a summer 2026 trip? Popular travel agent loveholidays has launched a huge winter sale just in time for Christmas. Holidaymakers can save up to €400 on holidays from Irish airports, including last minute winter sun for early 2026, or you can book your summer 2026 break. The prices start from […]
These are some of the surprising baby names that have been banned around the world When you’re expecting, coming up with a name can be super exciting. You buy books and consult family members to find out what would fit best. But what if the name you settled on was banned in your country? According […]