This book is "a chronicle of the nurses who have been present at the bedside of their dying patients. These patients have seen familiar "people" who have come to help them make their transition. These experiences have left the patients, their families and their nurses with a deep sense of peace."--Page 4 of cover. "The accounts were a product of a survey conducted among various nursing professionals in Louisiana prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and in Maryland in 2006"--Introduction. The survey was on the effect of deathbed visions (DBV) on nurses. With a DBV, unlike a Near Death Experience (NDE), death is final. The visions may occur immediately before death or weeks prior.

Introduction -- Accounts of dead relatives -- Jesus and angels -- Beautiful places -- Comforting chronicles -- Silent deathbed visions -- Other types of visions -- Distressing deathbed visions -- Near death experiences -- Dreams -- After death communication -- History and theory -- Nursing, individuals and spirituality -- Caring for the caretaker -- Direction for the caretaker -- Concluding thoughts.