Hospice Nurse

You can apply for a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) after 500 hours of hospice and palliative nursing practice in the previous 12 months or 1,000 hours within 24 months before applying for the examination.

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Another way to advance is to get your Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) certificate. You will need an MSN or doctoral degree as a Certified Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) with hospice and palliative advanced nursing practice after 500 hours in the previous 12 months or 1,000 hours within 24 months before applying for the exam.

• Provide care for elderly or terminal patients of any age
• Patient assessments: vital signs and physical exams
• Wound care and preventive skin care to prevent breakdown
• Medication administration: pain and secretion management
• Supervise and coordinate other home care staff: CNAs, bereavement support, and social workers 
• Educate and provide emotional and spiritual support to the patient and family members

• Cancer
• Pain management
• Dementia/Alzheimer's disease
• Heart and Respiratory Failure
• Progressive chronic diseases

1. Complete an ADN or BSN program in nursing.
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for your RN license.
3. Work one to two years in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility
4. Apply to hospice positions through your Visiting Nurse Service (VNS), community, or in a hospital setting. 
5. Apply to be a Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN) after meeting prerequisites.

National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

• Mission: As the leading organization representing hospice and palliative care providers, NHPCO works to expand access to a proven person-centered model for healthcare—one that provides patients and their loved ones with comfort, peace, and dignity during life’s most intimate and vulnerable experiences.
• Cost: Varies depending membership program, most of which are geared toward facility resources and support.
• Perks: Vary based on membership type and facility needs.

Hospice & Medicare

• Mission: The United States government’s national healthcare insurance program.
• Cost: Varies.
• Perks: Find more information here.

Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center

• Mission: “The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation have leveraged strategic and operational synergies and adopted shared mission and vision statements and common pillars of excellence.”’
• Cost: $55-$210, annually, depending on membership type.
• Perks: Online e-learning courses, access to CEUs, Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center certification and recertification exam discounts, online subscriptions to two professional journals, and more.