Death is weird. Most of us spend our entire lives sprinting away from the mere thought of it, yet millions of people are spending their Sunday nights glued to Hospice Nurse Julie YouTube videos. Why? Because Julie McFadden—known to the internet simply as Nurse Julie—has managed to do something pretty much impossible. She made the end of life feel less like a horror movie and more like a natural, albeit intense, part of being human.
Julie isn't some clinical academic lecturing from a mahogany desk. She’s a registered nurse who worked in ICU settings before finding her calling in hospice care. She’s seen it all. The rattling breaths. The "visioning." The peaceful transitions. And she talks about it with the casual energy of a friend telling you about their day over coffee, which is exactly why her channel blew up.
What Most People Get Wrong About Hospice Nurse Julie YouTube
If you search for Hospice Nurse Julie YouTube, you aren't just looking for medical definitions. You’re likely looking for permission to stop being afraid. A common misconception is that Julie’s channel is "dark" or "depressing." Honestly, it’s the opposite. It’s about education. She tackles the stuff that makes people squirm, like the "death rattle" or why people stop eating at the end.
She explains that the body is literally designed to die. It knows what to do.
People often think hospice means "giving up." Julie fights that narrative constantly. In her videos, she demonstrates how hospice is actually about reclaiming the time you have left. She focuses on comfort, dignity, and—believe it or not—joy. You’ve probably seen her viral clips about "The Reach." It’s that thing where dying patients reach out into the air as if they’re seeing someone or something. While a skeptic might call it hallucinations caused by oxygen deprivation, Julie shares these stories with a nuance that respects both the medical reality and the spiritual experience of the family.
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The Science of "The Surge"
One of her most-watched topics is "The Surge." You know that story where someone is on their deathbed, hasn't spoken in days, and then suddenly sits up, asks for a cheeseburger, and talks to everyone for three hours before passing away? Julie breaks down why that happens. It’s not a miracle cure, and it’s not a sign the person is getting better. It’s a final burst of energy. Understanding this helps families not feel "cheated" when the person passes shortly after. It gives them a chance to say the things they need to say.
Why Julie McFadden’s Approach Works for the Algorithm and the Soul
Google and YouTube love "Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness" (E-E-A-T). Julie has it in spades. She’s a Los Angeles-based RN with years of frontline experience. But the algorithm isn't just picking her up because she has a nursing license. It’s because she fills a massive void in our culture. We’ve medicalized death so much that we’ve forgotten how to do it at home.
Julie’s content feels authentic because she doesn't use a teleprompter or flashy graphics. It’s just her, usually in scrubs, talking to her camera.
- She uses real-life anecdotes (names changed, obviously).
- She addresses the physical symptoms of dying without using scary jargon.
- She validates the "gross" or "scary" parts so caregivers don't feel alone.
The comments section on any Hospice Nurse Julie YouTube video is a testament to this. It’s full of people saying, "I wish I had seen this before my mom passed," or "This made me less afraid of my own diagnosis." She’s basically the internet’s hospice doula.
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Addressing the Taboo: Terminal Agitation
Not every death is a peaceful sleep. Julie is very honest about "terminal agitation." This is when a patient becomes restless, confused, or even aggressive. Most creators would skip this because it's uncomfortable. Julie leans in. She explains that it’s often a chemical imbalance or a physical reaction, and that there are medications to help. This kind of transparency is rare. It prevents families from feeling guilty if their loved one’s final moments weren't "picture perfect."
The Lessons We Can Actually Use
So, what’s the takeaway from spending hours on Hospice Nurse Julie YouTube? It’s not just trivia about the human body. It’s about preparation.
- Advance Directives Matter. Julie constantly screams (figuratively) about having your paperwork in order. Don't leave your family guessing if you want a feeding tube or not.
- Hydration isn't always helpful. One of her most controversial but factual points is that forcing fluids on a dying person can actually cause more suffering (like lung congestion).
- Presence is enough. You don't need to have the perfect "last words." Just being in the room, holding a hand, or playing music is what matters.
Most people think hospice is for the last 24 hours of life. Julie argues it should be for the last six months. The earlier someone starts, the better their quality of life usually is. This is a huge shift in how we think about terminal illness.
Seeing "Dead Relatives"
This is the stuff that goes viral. Julie discusses how common it is for patients to see deceased loved ones or even pets in the days leading up to death. She doesn't try to prove it’s "real" in a scientific sense, but she emphasizes that it is real to the patient. It brings them peace. Instead of arguing with a dying person ("No, Grandpa, Uncle Joe isn't here, he died in 1994"), she suggests leaning into it. "What is he saying? Does he look happy?" It changes the energy in the room from fear to curiosity.
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How to Navigate the Channel for Your Own Needs
If you’re new to Hospice Nurse Julie YouTube, don't just binge the "most popular" videos unless you want an emotional rollercoaster.
If you are currently caregiving, look for her "Signs of Death" series. It’s a chronological breakdown of what happens months, weeks, days, and hours before death. It acts as a roadmap. If you’re just someone with death anxiety, her videos on "Deathbed Phenomena" are strangely comforting. She has a way of making the transition sound like a soft landing rather than a crash.
Julie often collaborates with other medical professionals, like Dr. Jordan Grumet (who focuses on the financial/life-planning side of death) or other hospice advocates. This builds a network of information that covers the emotional, physical, and practical bases.
Actionable Next Steps for You
Education is the best antidote to fear. If you find yourself drawn to Nurse Julie’s content, don't just watch passively. Take these steps to make that information work for you.
- Audit your "Death Literacy." Watch her video on the "Active Dying Phase." Knowing the physical signs (mottling, breathing changes) can prevent a panicked and unnecessary 911 call that might go against your loved one’s wishes.
- Start the "Great Conversation." Use one of her videos as a prompt to talk to your parents or partner. Say, "I saw this nurse on YouTube talking about hospice, and it made me wonder—what would you want your environment to be like if you were sick?"
- Check your documents. Ensure you have a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Julie emphasizes that the person you choose needs to be someone who can follow your wishes, even if it’s hard, not necessarily the person who loves you the most.
- Normalize the process. Follow her on other platforms like TikTok or Instagram if you want shorter, daily doses of this perspective. The more you see death discussed openly, the less power it has to terrify you.
Hospice care is one of the most misunderstood branches of medicine. Through Hospice Nurse Julie YouTube, the "mystery" is being pulled back, revealing that while death is inevitable, suffering doesn't have to be.