Picture a hospice nurse who turned heartfelt stories of life’s final moments into a literary sensation—meet Hadley Vlahos, R.N.! Known as 'Nurse Hadley' to her millions of TikTok followers, this New Orleans-based storyteller has redefined how we talk about death and dying. Her New York Times bestselling memoir, The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments, weaves compassionate tales from her patients with profound lessons on living fully, making her a beacon of hope in palliative care.
Vlahos’s journey from single motherhood to literary stardom is as inspiring as her work. With a knack for storytelling that’s both gentle and transformative, she’s changing the narrative around mortality, one viral video and page at a time.
The Making of Hadley Vlahos, R.N.
Born and raised in a religious household near New Orleans, Hadley Vlahos faced life-altering challenges early on. At 13, the sudden loss of a friend shook her faith, and by 20, she became a single mother. Determined to provide for her child, she pivoted from dreams of writing to nursing school, a practical choice that unexpectedly became her calling. Her grandparents, licensed embalmers and funeral directors, normalized discussions of death in her family, planting seeds for her future in hospice care.
Vlahos began her nursing career at 22, but it was her shift to hospice care that transformed her perspective. Burnt out from traditional nursing, she found purpose in palliative care, where she connected deeply with patients. This pivot, coupled with her natural storytelling flair, set the stage for her literary and social media success.
Hadley Vlahos, R.N.’s Unforgettable Stories
Vlahos’s debut memoir, The In-Between, published in June 2023, is her cornerstone work. This poignant book recounts her experiences with 11 hospice patients and her mother-in-law, blending raw emotion with insights on mortality. From a woman questioning her lifelong faith on her deathbed to a young patient regretting time spent worrying about others’ opinions, Vlahos’s stories reveal the universal truths found in life’s final moments. Her writing style is heartfelt, accessible, and infused with empathy, making complex topics approachable.
Beyond the page, Vlahos shines on TikTok as 'Nurse Hadley,' where she shares reenactments and lessons from her work. With over 1.5 million followers, her videos—like one about a man playing hide-and-seek with his deceased daughter’s spirit—offer comfort and spark conversations about death. While The In-Between remains her only book to date, her social media presence amplifies her storytelling, educating and inspiring a global audience.
Vlahos’s work stands out for its death-positive approach. She challenges taboos by presenting dying as a natural, even beautiful process, encouraging readers and viewers to embrace life’s impermanence. Her ability to find joy in caregiving, paired with her authentic voice, makes her a unique figure in memoir and healthcare advocacy.
Why Hadley Vlahos, R.N. Matters
Hadley Vlahos has reshaped how we view end-of-life care, turning a topic often shrouded in fear into one of hope and wisdom. Her memoir and TikTok videos have touched millions, offering solace to those navigating grief and inspiring others to live more intentionally. Her nonprofit initiative, Hadley House, aims to create respite hospice homes, further extending her impact by supporting caregivers and families.
Vlahos’s influence lies in her ability to bridge personal storytelling with universal themes. By sharing her patients’ lessons, she encourages us to prioritize what truly matters—love, connection, and living without regret. Her work resonates across generations, proving that even in life’s final moments, there’s beauty to be found.
- Born: 1994 (age 31 in 2025)
- Key Work: The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments (2023)
- Notable Achievement: New York Times bestseller for over two months
- Social Media: Over 1.5 million TikTok followers as 'Nurse Hadley'
Snag The In-Between or follow Nurse Hadley on TikTok to dive into Hadley Vlahos’s compassionate world of storytelling! Her lessons on life and death will leave you inspired to make every moment count.