[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Hospice Nurse Career in Brief[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Hospice nurses care for patients with terminal conditions, often focusing on keeping the patient as comfortable as possible and minimizing pain. They work under the supervision of physicians or advanced practice nurses and may supervise nursing assistants.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Hospice Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Hospice nurses work in hospitals, residential care centers, and in patient homes.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Provide care to ease symptoms and keep the patient as physically comfortable as possible; collaborate with clinical and non-clinical staff; communicate with family[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Home Health[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Administer medical treatment; meet patients’ needs; educate family caregivers[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Hospice Care Centers[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Admit new patients; communicate with family; provide care; supervise nursing assistants[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Hospice Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How To Become a Hospice Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-article-card title=”Learn More About How to Become a Hospice Nurse” href=”/careers/hospice-nurse/how-to-become/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Certification Options for Hospice Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator (CHPCA)”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This certification is no longer offered to new applicants, but hospice nurses with current [hen-ui-link href=”https://advancingexpertcare.org/” target=”_blank”]CHPCA[/hen-ui-link] certification can continue to recertify through ongoing clinical work and accruing continuing education hours.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]For [hen-ui-link href=”https://advancingexpertcare.org/HPNA/HPCC/CertificationWeb/CHPN.aspx” target=”_blank”]CHPN[/hen-ui-link] certification, hospice nurses should hold at least 500 hours of experience in the last year as a palliative care or hospice nurse, or 1,000 hours in the last two years of work, hold an unrestricted RN license, and pass an examination.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN)”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Hospice nurses seeking [hen-ui-link href=”https://advancingexpertcare.org/HPNA/HPCC/CertificationWeb/CHPPN.aspx” target=”_blank”]CHPPN[/hen-ui-link] certification need at least 500 hours of experience in the last year of palliative care and pediatric nursing, or 1,000 hours in the past two years. They also need an unrestricted RN license and a passing grade on the examination.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN)”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://advancingexpertcare.org/HPNA/HPCC/CertificationWeb/ACHPN.aspx” target=”_blank”]ACHPN[/hen-ui-link] certification is for advanced practice nurses and requires either certified nurse specialist or nurse practitioner status, recent experience as a palliative care or hospice nurse, an unrestricted RN license, and a passing score on the certification exam.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Hospice Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The average [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/hospice-nurse/”]hospice nurse salary[/hen-ui-link] is [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Hospice_Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$67,250[/hen-ui-link]. Nurses with a [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/rn-and-bsn-degree-differences//”]BSN degree[/hen-ui-link] make more than those with an ADN and advanced practice nurses and nurse practitioners earn more than BSN-holders.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]RN jobs are projected to grow by 7% between 2019 and 2029. Hospice nurse jobs may likely grow faster, given the aging U.S. population and the growth of hospice care in general, especially in-home hospice care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific Salary Data” href=”/registered-nursing/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]How long does it take to become a hospice nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Hospice nurse jobs require [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/four-year-bsn-degree/”]a two-year ADN or a four-year BSN[/hen-ui-link], and then typically 2-3 more years of experience as an acute care nurse, depending on certification type.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Can hospice nurses prescribe medicine?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Only advanced practice hospice nurses, such as certified nurse specialists and [hen-ui-link href=”/nurse-practitioner/”]nurse practitioners[/hen-ui-link], can prescribe medicine, such as controlled substances. [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/hospice-nurse/how-to-become/”]Hospice nurses[/hen-ui-link] without this certification cannot prescribe medication.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Palliative care involves reducing pain and distress for those with serious chronic conditions, whether or not the condition is terminal. Hospice care emphasizes managing pain and psychological distress specifically for those with terminal conditions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Who do hospice nurses work alongside on a hospice team?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Hospice nurses work alongside physicians or advanced practice nurses who prescribe treatments. They often supervise certified nursing assistants and collaborate with chaplains, social workers, psychologists, and others who provide non-clinical care.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Hospice Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://advancingexpertcare.org/” target=”_blank”] Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association offers education, certification, networking, and professional development resources to its members. It also engages in advocacy for hospice and palliative care as part of healthcare. Membership is open to RNs and nursing assistants.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://aahpm.org/” target=”_blank”] American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine provides education, resources, and networking for physicians engaged in hospice and palliative care. However, membership is also open to hospice nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals in hospice or palliative care.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nhpco.org/” target=”_blank”] National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organizations membership consists of hospice and palliative care providers, provider networks, and individual healthcare professionals. It provides resources for hospice and palliative care administration and also engages in advocacy to enhance access to holistic healthcare.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Related Pages[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-article-row variant=”slider” ids=”34163,34169,34427,33917″][/hen-ui-article-row][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_200,w_200/c_scale,w_200/e_grayscale/v1616020353/NurseJournal.org/Elizabeth_Clarke-1.jpg” img-alt=”Elizabeth Clarke, FNP, MSN, RN, MSSW” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Elizabeth Clarke (Poon) is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who provides primary and urgent care to pediatric populations. She earned a BSN and MSN from the University of Miami.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Clarke is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]