Nursing Congress 2019 | World Nursing Conferences

What Is Hospice Nursing?

Hospice Nurses are health care professionals that care for patients at the end of their lives. The term "hospice nurse" is used by many as an umbrella term for a number of different professions. When individuals refer to themselves as hospice nurses, they're most likely employed as one of the following kinds of nurses: Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistants (CHPNA) or Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN). Hospice nurses typically work with terminally ill patients and help ensure their and quality of life during their remaining days, as opposed to working to cure or fix a patient. Their primary responsibility is to help people live as comfortably and independently as possible and with the least amount of pain during their last days.

Becoming a Hospice Nurse

One of the main parts of being a Hospice Nurse involves helping patients, and their families feel more comfortable about death and providing them with the emotional support they need. Additionally, hospice nurses will do their best in assisting family members to manage any practical details that may be involved when caring for a dying loved one.

What Are the Educational Requirements for Hospice Nurses?

For Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistants (CHPNAs):

• CHPNAs will have a high school diploma or GED
• Must have to have at minimum 500 hours of hospice and palliative nursing assistant experience in the most recent 12 months, or 1,000 hours in the past 24 months, all under the supervision of a registered nurse in the United States.

For Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurses (CHPLNs):

• Individual must have attended college or university and have obtained a BSN, ADN, or have graduated from a state-approved program in vocational nursing
• Must currently be a licensed RN or LVN in state of residence
• Should have at least two years of related experience

For Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses (CHPNs):

• Individual must have attended college or university, earning either a BSN or ADN
• Must currently be a licensed RN in state of residence
• Should have at least two years of related care settings

For Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses (ACHPNs):

• Will hold a master's or doctoral degree in advanced practice nursing program from an accredited university that includes both clinical and didactic segments
• Must currently be in possession of an unrestricted active registered nurse license in the US.
• Must be a functioning Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) with 500 hours of hospice and palliative nursing practice in the most recent 12 months, or 1,000 hours in the past 24 months before applying to take the ACHPN Examination

What Does a Hospice Nurse Do?

Hospice care helps patients who are terminally ill to die in a dignified way in their own home instead of in a hospital setting. One of the main jobs of a hospice nurse is to provide emotional support to assist their patients to live as independent and as comfortable as possible near the end of their lives. Often, hospice nurses are expected to stay in communication with family members, physicians, priests, or other spiritual advisers. Hospice nurses should comfortable navigating in crisis situations. In most cases, hospice nurses are part of a larger interdisciplinary health care team, which administers nursing care to individuals and their families. A hospice nurse's role will depend on the certification they hold (i.e. CHPNA, CHPLN, or CHPN).

Helpful Organizations, Societies, and Agencies

• National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
• Hospice & Medicare
• Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center