Joan Wells: The Heart for Hospice

Joan will review the core philosophy and guiding principles of hospice care and identify the physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs of patients and their families.

Focusing on the interdisciplinary team Joan will explain the importance of delivering compassionate patient-centered care and describe strategies for fostering meaningful connections with patients and families.

About Joan

Joan Wells is a native of Tuscaloosa, raised and educated in the community she calls home. Joan had known she had the spirit of serving others for as long as she can remember. The desire to pursue a career in nursing came naturally, with a deep passion for the elderly and caring for terminally ill patients and families.

Joan has worked for Hospice of West Alabama for the past 26 years. She currently serves as the Director of Nursing and the Education Coordinator. Joan is an ELNEC certified and has held a hospice and palliative nurse certification since 2006. She welcomes opportunities to share her passion for quality end of life care by speaking to various audiences and platforms. Joan records a monthly aide teleconference series that is used for training and maintaining contact hour requirements with hospice organizations across the state. Joan actively works with the Alabama Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and is a member of the Alabama State Nurses Association.

Joan has two daughters and one granddaughter. A member of Bethel Baptist Church where she is a member of the music and children’s ministry.