Hospice Nurse Reveals the 5 Most Common Phrases People Say Before They Die
Facing the end of life remains one of humanity’s greatest unknowns, yet those who work in palliative care consistently describe it not as frightening, but as profoundly natural. Hospice professionals often witness powerful, sometimes inexplicable, moments during the final hours of their patients’ lives—moments that challenge Hollywood's portrayal of death and offer unexpected comfort.
A hospice nurse shares surprising last words and end-of-life insights from patients, revealing what really happens in our final moments.
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Dr. Kathryn Mannix, a palliative care doctor and author of With the End in Mind, shared during a TED Talk that the dying process is “as much a process as giving birth.” Her message echoed across the medical community, encouraging a new narrative around death—one grounded in peace, clarity, and understanding.
California-based hospice nurse Julie McFadden, widely known as Nurse Julie on social media, has supported this compassionate perspective through her own 16 years of experience with terminally ill patients. Appearing on the Dr. Karan Explores podcast, she recounted how many patients exhibit a remarkable awareness of their impending death—sometimes even choosing when to pass.
“I’ve had patients say, ‘I’m dying tonight,’ and they did—despite no clinical signs of decline,” Julie recalled. This conscious timing continues to mystify even seasoned healthcare providers, defying scientific explanation yet repeated too often to dismiss.
Alongside this curious phenomenon, Julie has also observed a recurring theme in the final words spoken by those near death. Far from the dramatic monologues depicted in cinema, the last utterances are often short, simple, and deeply emotional. Many patients quietly express love to those around them, whispering heartfelt phrases such as “I love you,” “Thank you,” or “Goodbye.”
Other patients use their final moments to seek or offer forgiveness, saying things like “I forgive you” or “Please forgive me.” These expressions are rarely shouted or announced with grandeur; instead, they are shared softly, sometimes hours or even days before the final breath.
Multilingual patients may revert to their native language in their last days, even if they haven't spoken it in decades. Julie recalled patients switching from English back to Italian or Yiddish, sometimes uttering seemingly nonsensical phrases—at least to the living. Statements like “I just need to go home” are surprisingly common and may refer not to a physical place, but to a spiritual one.
The concept of “home” holds special weight in the hospice setting. Patients often describe needing to go somewhere or prepare for a journey, hinting at a belief or awareness beyond the physical realm. This language can be cryptic, yet it often brings peace to both the patient and their loved ones.
Beyond their final words, many patients open up about lifelong regrets in their closing days. Julie noted a recurring theme: people wish they had valued their health more deeply. The ability to see, walk, or live pain-free—things once taken for granted—often become central reflections. Many lament spending too much of their life working or obsessing over their appearance.
Women, in particular, have shared that they regret years of dieting or body image struggles, wishing instead that they had embraced self-acceptance and joy. These confessions serve as poignant reminders about how to live with intention and presence, long before the final chapter arrives.
Julie’s candid revelations offer a profound reframe of the dying experience. Far from being dominated by fear or chaos, the end of life often unfolds with clarity, love, and emotional release. Listening to the words of those preparing to leave this world can teach the living how to better appreciate their time in it.
