Palliative Care Nurse

Last Updated On Aug 21, 2024

Expert Verified: Catherine Burger, MSOL, RN, NEA-BC, LNC

7 Min Read

What is a Palliative Care Nurse?

The palliative care nurse provides compassionate care, typically for the terminally or chronically ill. This type of nurse has a special interest in creating an environment of pain relief and comfort, and works to promote these aspects of care through the cooperation of friends and/or family. The goals of care in these situations then become relieving suffering through a thorough assessment of the needs of the patient and family on a psychosocial, physical, and spiritual level. This nurse coordinates with other providers to meet the needs of the family and patient.

Many people use “palliative care nurse” and “hospice nurse” interchangeably. People who do this aren’t always incorrect, but there are a few subtle differences that you should be aware of:

Aspect	Palliative Care Nurses	Hospice Nurses
Focus	Symptom relief and quality of life for patients at any stage of a serious illness	Comfort and support during the final stages of life, focusing on end-of-life care
Patient Eligibility	Patients at any stage of a serious illness, can be receiving curative treatment	Patients with a prognosis of six months or less to live, not receiving curative treatment
Treatment Approach	Can be combined with curative treatments or other therapies	Focuses entirely on comfort care, no curative treatment
Goals	Improve quality of life, manage symptoms, support patients and families	Provide compassionate end-of-life care, manage symptoms, support patients and families
Duration of Care	Can be long-term, depending on the patient’s illness and needs	Typically short-term, usually for the last months of life
Care Setting	Hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, at home	Usually at home, but also in hospice facilities or nursing homes

How to Become a Palliative Care Nurse

Nurses with a wide variety of care backgrounds can become palliative care nurses. Those who have experience with geriatric care and certain terminal diseases like cancer and heart disease are good candidates for this specialty. Strong communication skills are also needed, as palliative care nurses often coordinate with the patient's family. Lastly, empathy and compassion are needed to be successful as a palliative care nurse, as emotions can run high when serious illness is involved.

What Are the Schooling Requirements for Palliative Care Nurses?

The palliative care nurse is not always required to have a Bachelor's degree (an ADN works as well), but is required to pass the NCLEX-RN exam and have an RN license in good standing. An LVN/LPN is also acceptable in some settings. Nurses interested in this specialty can also opt to take specialized palliative care courses, which are offered at many nursing schools.

Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

There are several certifications offered for palliative care nursing. The Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center offers the following seven certifications:

What Does a Palliative Care Nurse Do?

Palliative care nurses must often strike the balance of alleviating their patients’ symptoms and pain without over-sedating them. Their main concern is to make the patient as comfortable as possible. They also provide important emotional support to the patient and their family and often educate those involved regarding new ways to manage symptoms.

Where Do Palliative Care Nurses Work?

Palliative care nursing can be provided in a variety of settings, wherever a patient in need resides. This includes:

Hospitals
Nursing homes
Assisted living facilities
Patients’ homes

Settings where the elderly convene or where chronic conditions are treated (like critical care units) are some of the most common places where palliative care nurses work. Patients often prefer in-home palliative care.

What Are the Roles and Duties of a Palliative Care Nurse?

Provide and monitor pain management
Help to alleviate physical symptoms (i.e. respiratory difficulties, nausea, etc.)
Dispense medications on schedule
Educate patients and families on symptom management
Provide emotional support

Palliative Care Nurse Salary & Employment

The palliative care nurse earns an average salary of $87,032 with a range of $76,500 – $105,000. Location, certifications, education, and experience affect the salary of this position.

The palliative care industry is booming due to the aging population. The employment outlook for a palliative care nurse is very good, and is projected to rise by 7% by the year 2032. Due to the demand for this type of nurse in a variety of care settings, palliative care nurses should find it reasonably easy to find a job in the field.