Hospice nurses are health care professionals who are trained to care for terminally ill patients. These nurses work with patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals to ensure the patient's quality of life, and to make their last days as easy, painless, and comfortable as possible. They offer patients physical, emotional, and psychological support, and provide individualized care based on each patient's unique needs. The term "hospice nurse" is often used as an all-encompassing term for a variety of different professionals in the nursing field. However, when someone refers to themselves as a hospice nurse, they more than likely work under one following credentials: Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA), Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN), Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN), or an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN).
What Are Some Hospice Nurse Duties?
Some tasks and duties that are commonly carried out by hospice nurses include the following:
Perform patient assessments
Review medical histories
Regularly monitor and record vitals
Develop a plan of care for professional caregivers to follow
Provide emotional and psychosocial support to patients and their loved ones
Act as a communication bridge between the patient, caregiver, hospice team, and the family
Obtain a physician's order for oxygen, a hospital bed, medications, and other supplies
Ensure the patient receives the highest quality care
Help to educate family caregivers
Offer spiritual support to the families of patients
Ensure that patients do not die alone
Administer medication and educate families on the process
Provide end-of-life education and insight to families
Advocate for practical patient care
Check living space for safety hazards
Where Do Hospice Nurses Work?
Hospice nurses are typically employed wherever end-of-life care is needed. Common workplaces include:
Long-term care facilities
Assisted living facilities
Hospice centers
Patients' homes
Geriatric nursing homes
Hospitals
How to Become a Hospice Nurse
How a person becomes a hospice nurse will depend on a few factors. For example, if one wishes to become a hospice nurse assistant (CHPNA), he or she will only need to finish high school/acquire a GED, gain a number of hours of experience in a hospice setting as a nursing assistant, and pass the standardized certification exam. The path that one must take to become a licensed hospice nurse (CHPLN) is slightly different. At the least, CHPLN candidates will need to complete a state-approved licensed vocational/practical nursing training program, acquire an LVN/LPN license, and gain at least two years of experience before they are eligible for the hospice credential. Becoming a registered hospice nurse (CHP) or an advanced hospice nurse (ACHPN) takes more time than the previous two credentials, requiring a nursing degree and RN license. Lastly, prospective advanced hospice nurses will need to do everything that's required to become a registered hospice nurse, plus they'll need to earn a graduate degree in nursing, become a nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist, and gain some experience in the field before they're eligible for the advanced hospice practice credential.
Step 1: Educational Requirements
To become a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA), the following educational requirements must be met:
Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent
Have at least 500 hours of experience in a hospice and palliative setting under the supervision of an RN in the past year, OR have 1000 hours in the past two years
To become a Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN), the following educational requirements must be met:
Have graduated from a state-approved vocational nursing program and be licensed as an LVN/LPN, OR hold an ADN or BSN from an accredited university and be licensed as an RN
Have at least two years of experience
To become a Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPN), the following educational requirements must be met
Hold a BSN or ADN degree from an accredited university
Hold an active and unrestricted RN license
Have a minimum of two years of experience in a related setting
To become an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (ACHPN), the following educational requirements must be met:
Hold a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from an accredited university
Possess an active an unrestricted RN license
Be a nurse practitioner (NP) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) with 500 hours of experience in a hospice and palliative care setting in the past year, or 1000 hours in the past two years
Do Hospice Nurses Need an RN Degree?
Not necessarily. Whether or not a hospice nurse will need to hold an RN license will depend on which certification they choose to pursue.
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA)
Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent
Have at least 500 hours of experience in a hospice and palliative setting under the supervision of an RN in the past year, OR have 1000 hours in the past two years
Pass the HPCC CHPNA Exam
Certification must be renewed every four years
Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN)
Have graduated from a state-approved vocational nursing program and be licensed as an LVN/LPN, OR hold an ADN or BSN from an accredited university and be licensed as an RN
Have at least two years of experience
Pass the HPCC CHPLN Exam
Certification must be renewed every four years
Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPN)
Hold a BSN or ADN degree from an accredited university
Hold an active and unrestricted RN license
Have a minimum of two years of experience in a related setting
Pass the HPCC CHPN Exam
Certification must be renewed every four years
Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (ACHPN):
Hold a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from an accredited university
Possess an active an unrestricted RN license
Be a nurse practitioner (NP) or clinical nurse specialist (CNS) with 500 hours of experience in a hospice and palliative care setting in the past year, or 1000 hours in the past two years
Pass the ACHPN Exam
Certification must be renewed every four years
Hospice Nurse Jobs, Salary & Employment
Because hospice nurses work with patients who are going through perhaps the most vulnerable period of their lives, the career can be incredibly emotionally rewarding and taxing at the same time. As baby boomers continue to age and their healthcare needs grow, the demand for hospice nurses is also expected to grow.
Job Description & Information
Essential Skills Needed - Compassion and empathy, strong interpersonal communication abilities, excellent attention to detail, critical thinking skills, dependability, emotional strength and stability, and an intimate understanding of the importance of self-care
Job Outlook - The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for registered nurses will increase by 16% between 2014 and 2024. This combined with the fact that those in populous baby boomer generation are beginning to reach old age would suggest that the demand for hospice nurses will also grow at a similar rate.
What Is the Average Salary of a Hospice Nurse?
According to PayScale, the average yearly salary for a hospice nurse is about $64,696. How much money a hospice nurse makes will depend on factors like the geographical location of their employment, which educational credentials and certifications they have, how much overtime they work, who they're employed by, and how much experience they have. The kind of employee benefits that a hospice nurse receives will also depend on the factors mentioned above, but typically includes medical insurance, paid time off, and more.
