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Sometimes, they will inquire as to whether she’s still researching that “woo-woo stuff,” and she answers them with a knowing smile.

James, a critical care senior nurse instructor, has gained a reputation for her work in the field of near-death experiences. She serves on the international association’s board of directors and frequently lectures to colleagues on the subject.

Working in critical care has given her the opportunity to care for many patients who have had near-death encounters.

“I never thought their claims were weird or crazy,” she said. “I do remember thinking it was odd when we would resuscitate a patient, expecting gratitude, and instead they were livid.”

As James learned more about these encounters, she began to understand why a terminally ill patient might not want to be pulled back from the far reaches of what many described as “heaven.”

She became so intrigued with the topic that she based her master’s thesis on the subject of disclosure issues and NDEs. In her research, she found that many patients who admitted to having these experiences were rejected, medicated or divorced by others who questioned their sanity.

While working at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, James was interviewed for a story on near-death experiences. At the end of the newscast, viewers were told that Methodist would have a meeting for anyone interested in learning more about the phenomenon.

“That was 12 years ago and we had 110 people in attendance at that first meeting,” James said. “The group continues to meet once a month and is composed of people who have had NDEs, their families, nurses, doctors, researchers and those just interested in learning more about the subject.”

In her lectures to colleagues, James advises nurses to use open-ended questions if they sense that a patient has had a near-death encounter. If a patient has just undergone traumatic surgery, the nurse might say, “Patients often tell me things they remember during surgery. Please know I’m here if there are any aspects of your surgery that you’d like to discuss.”

“The important thing is for nurses to get patients to talk about their experience,” James said. “Nurses should practice active listening and let patients know they won’t be judgmental.”

Part of the resistance to accepting NDEs in the medical community may be the ability to look at the phenomenon objectively. If these encounters are real, then caregivers must consider the possibility of a human soul, an aspect not traditionally covered in medical and nursing schools.

The subject also has caused some to question the validity of their own religious viewpoints.

“People who have experienced NDEs claim that the meaning of life is as simple as love and knowledge,” James said. “This realization, combined with the fact that many people who have these encounters haven’t led saintly lives, can undo a lot of beliefs.”

Rather than being a religious experience, most people who have NDEs claim they’ve had a spiritual experience.

“I’ve had patients claim to see Buddha, God, a spirit, a light, a power,” James said. “Studying this phenomenon has convinced me that death isn’t the end, it’s just a transition.”

Becoming a believer
As a nurse, Olma Sullivan, RN, of Southport, Maine, has provided end-of-life care to many patients, yet she never expected to confront her own mortality at age 39.

After the birth of her daughter, Sullivan was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. One evening, while drifting off to sleep, her heart began to pound irregularly, and then it suddenly stopped beating.

Sullivan still can recall in great detail the experience of floating over her daughter’s nursery, and traveling toward a wide, velvety tunnel, where she experienced incredible light and warmth.

Before her own near-death encounter, Sullivan was skeptical of the near-death phenomenon. After many years and much research on the topic, she finally felt comfortable confiding in others about her experience. She now firmly believes that these experiences are valid, and works to help patients put their own encounters in perspective.

“On reaching that place of light, there was an incredible feeling of familiarity, of being home and a feeling of sadness at having to leave even though I wanted to return home to raise my daughter,” Sullivan said.

Two days after her NDE, Sullivan was diagnosed with colon cancer. The doctor commented that she was so anemic he was amazed she hadn’t experienced cardiac arrest. Sullivan believes she did suffer cardiac arrest, and that her near-death experience has made her a better nurse.

“After my experience, I began working in the field of geriatric nursing and I think my experience has helped me better understand and care for patients as they approach the end of their lives,” Sullivan said. “Many terminally ill patients want to talk about death, but are met with resistance when they broach the subject with family or friends.”

When patients encounter Sullivan, they may find a kindred spirit who will talk about death and dying. She admits that before her own experience, she didn’t have strong religious beliefs and hadn’t thought much about the concept of heaven or an afterlife.

But when patients ask her about death now, Sullivan answers their questions with the wisdom of her own experience. “I can tell them with absolute certainty that life here on Earth is just the beginning.”

Contact Linda Childers at eastbaypr@aol.com.