Hospice Nurse

Last Updated On Aug 21, 2024

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

9 Min Read

What is a Hospice Nurse?

Hospice nurses are RNs who 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 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.

The titles “palliative care nurse” and “hospice nurse” are often used 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 Hospice Nurse

Aside from keeping patients as comfortable and pain-free as possible, 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 to assist family members in managing any practical details that may be involved when caring for a dying loved one.

What Are the Schooling 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

Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?

Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistants (CHPNAs)

Must pass standardized HPCC CHPNA® Examination to obtain credential
Certification is valid for four years; to renew one's certification, one must retake and pass the recertification examination and keep current in the field through continuing education courses

Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurses (CHPLNs)

Must pass standardized HPCC CHPLN Examination
Certification is valid for four years; recertification is given to those that take and pass the recertification examination and stay up to date on happenings in the field through continuing education courses

Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses (CHPNs):

Must pass standardized HPCC CHPN Examination
Certification is valid for four years; recertification is granted either by taking and passing recertification exam or by submitting approval for continuing education and other approved activities

Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses (ACHPNs)

Must pass standardized ACHPN Examination
Candidates who sit for and pass the ACHPN examination are granted the credential of ACHPN

What Does a Hospice Nurse Do?

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

Where Do Hospice Nurses Work?

Typically, hospice patients are expected to live six months or less. It is for this reason that most hospice care takes place at the patient's place of residence. Hospice nurses will work:

At the patient's home or family's home
At a hospice center
At a skilled nursing facility
At a geriatric nursing home
At a hospital

What Are the Roles and Duties of a Hospice Nurse?

Because they're RNs, Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses (CHPNs) are considered the senior nursing professional on the hospice team. CHPNs are responsible for providing education, supervision, and direction to the other nursing staff. Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistants (CHPNAs) and Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurses (CHPLNs), on the other hand, are responsible for providing hands-on nursing care around the clock. CHPNAs and CHPLNs are in charge of day-to-day nursing activities like managing the patient's pain symptoms and comfort level. They are also responsible for maintaining the patient's hygiene and making sure they take their prescribed medication at the correct times.

Both CHPNAs and CHPLNs must keep an open line of communication with the CHPNs and Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses on the case. Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses (ACHPNs) are on the periphery of the hospice team but maintain a vital role in evaluating the patient’s overall condition and appropriately prescribing the most effective medication.

Hospice Nurse Salary & Employment

Hospice nurses who are registered nurses with advanced degrees will almost invariably have larger salaries than their nursing counterparts without advanced degrees.

Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistants (CHPNAs) and Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurses (CHPLNs) will on average make an hourly wage between $19.95 to $68.99 per hour or $99,500 annually. The salary of Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses (CHPNs) ranges between $69,000 at the low end all the way up to $105,000 annually. Lastly, Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses(ACHPN) make an average of $96,126 annually.

As you can see, there are a lot of variables that may decide how much you make as a hospice nurse, however, here is a general range you can expect: