End-of-life nurse shares the most disturbing behaviors seen in those nearing death

Julie McFadden is a hospice nurse who has witnessed a number of deaths throughout her life. Very often, she speaks of the reality of dying in an attempt to help people understand the process of leaving this world through the behaviors seen in those nearing death.

It is her mission to “alleviate the fear and stigma around death.”

She has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families navigate the final stages of life. Alongside her professional work, Julie has authored a book and built a significant social media presence. She’s focusing on themes of death and dying.

In the videos she posts on the social media, she shares insights of the last moments of life of her patients – from their last words and their biggest regrets, to certain behaviors they display.

TikTok/@hospicenursejulie

Speaking of some of the most disturbing moments the loved ones of the dying person experience are the changes in breathing at the person who is about to live the world.

This is known as Cheyne–Stokes breathing, happening as a result of metabolic changes in the body.

These changes are normal, and even if they take place, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the patient is suffering. However, their loved ones understand it as a suffering and most of them say it’s something they “wished they would have known about.”

“You can see that chest rapidly breathing, and then a long pause […] and then rapid breathing again,” she explained.

TikTok/@hospicenursejulie

Another of the behaviors seen in those nearing death, as explained by Julie is the “death rattle.”

This happens when the mouth creates saliva but the brain doesn’t communicate to the body to teel it to swallow it, leading to a strange gurgling noise.

t=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>@hospicenursejulie <a title=”hospicenursejulie” href=”https://www.tiktok.com/tag/hospicenursejulie?refer=embed” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>#hospicenursejulie #PrimeDayDreamDeals #deathrattle >href=”https://www.tiktok.com/tag/terminal?refer=embed” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>#terminal</a> #learnontiktok get=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>#itsokay #youdidgood ♬ Almost Idyllic – Sleeping At Last

“People hear it, they don’t understand it, they automatically assume it’s coming from their lungs. That is not happening. It’s truly just a little bit of saliva,” Julie explained.

“This is not making them feel that they are suffocating, and we know this because the body is showing that it is relaxed,” she added.

According to her, human bodies are built to know how to prepare themselves for dying.

Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.

Bored Daddy

Love and Peace

Monica Pop
Monica Pop
Monica Pop is a senior writer for Bored Daddy magazine covering the latest trending and popular articles across the United States and around the world.

More from author

Related posts

Latest posts

Man who goes swimming shortly after getting a tattoo dies

A 31-year-old man ignored the advice about avoiding swimming at least two weeks after getting a tattoo, resulting in his death. Namely, the unidentified man...

Patel set to release documents tied to FBI’s Trump-Russia collusion investigation

Following a declassification executive order from President Donald Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel has delivered nearly 700 pages of declassified documents from the bureau’s...

The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey shares why they have some regrets about coming out as non-binary

Bella Ramsey, the star of The Last of Us, came out as non-binary in 2023 during the film's promotion. Now, two years after revealing...

Major alert for defaulted student loans: A new policy shift impacts more than 5 million people

Payments on student loans were paused during Donald Trump’s first presidency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic when a huge number of businesses closed...

Pope Francis’ final words before passing aged 88

Pope Francis “returned to the home of the Father.” He died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence...

Resurfaced video captures holocaust survivor challenging ICE director

Bernard Marks, a holocaust survivor, challenged US ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan in 2017 during a public forum on immigration. Now, the video of...