Becoming A Hospice Nurse

By becoming a Hospice nurse you automatically become part of an interdisciplinary team that includes: the patient’s family, volunteers, social worker, chaplain, medical director, nursing assistants, RNs, and LVN/LPNs. In some Hospices they utilize aroma, music, massage, occupational, speech, or physical therapists. Hospice care is a branch of palliative care. Hospice care is usually given in the last 6-9 months of life. Whereas according to the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) “Palliative care is both a philosophy of care and an organized, highly structured system for delivering care.” The goals of palliative care include: prevention and relief from suffering, enhance the quality of life for both patients and their family, and assist with making decisions.

Unlike Hospice, palliative care can be provided during any stage of an illness. Both Hospice and palliative care can be offered at the patient’s place of residence, the hospital or skilled nursing facility. Hospice care can also be provided in inpatient hospice units, and

Hospice-run residential facilities, known as Hospice Homes. These “homes” provide respite for the family and help manage the patient’s symptoms. To gain more knowledge about this specialty, the LVN/LPN schools usually provide the opportunity to shadow a Hospice nurse during the latter part of the LVN/LPN student’s program. In addition the HPNA offers additional information for the nurse and student nurse about palliative nursing across the life span.

In 1986 the Hospice Nurses Association was created to support Hospice nurses. Later on in 1998 HPNA was created to include palliative care nurses. The HPNA promotes excellence in palliative care and offers support and education to their members. The HPNA membership is open to advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical/vocational nurses, and nursing assistants who care for people with life-limiting and terminal illness. For more information about hospice and palliative care nursing visit www.hpna.org

Nurses As Massage Therapist

Recently I taught a Skills Lab for the nursing program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts. This week’s learning objectives include massage. You may be thinking, “I didn’t know massage was part of the LVN or LPN schools training?” Usually massage is performed by the nurse or nurse’s assistant after bath care or at bedtime. Unfortunately nurses typically do not have the time to massage their patients. The good news is that if the student nurse takes the time to massage their patient’s hands during their clinical rotations, massage will more likely be incorporated into their LVN or LPN jobs. For the nurse who want additional training in bodywork there are massage programs with 500 hours of therapeutic massage and bodywork to earn the title Nurse Massage Therapist. According to the article Nurse Massage Therapy posted on MassageTherapy101.com, “[massage] is used to help patients recover more quickly from injury and illness, while also providing relief from any pain or discomfort they may be experiencing during the healing period.”

This article also states that Nurse Massage Therapists are now employed in various positions from private practice, nursing homes, hospitals, community health, and rehabilitation centers to Hospice. Massage is not only needed by the patient. Nurses also need modalities to support their well-being. One association that promotes this holistic practice is the National Association of Nurse Massage Therapy (NANMT). To become an active NANMT member requires a nursing license and certification by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, or a state license to practice therapeutic massage/bodywork, or has completed a minimum of 500 hours verifiable instruction in massage and/or bodyworks. For those who are becoming a LPN or LVN, and want to know more about this specialty, you can contact the NANMT at www.nanmt.org.

LPN Certification and Certificate Programs

LPN certification which prepare students for licensing as practical nurses, can be completed through a number of 2-year colleges. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs will grow very quickly for licensed practical nurses over the decade between 2008 and 2018. Licensed practical nurses are also known as licensed vocational nurses.

LPN Certificate:

After 2 year community, colleges and trade schools offer LPN certificates. Students can earn a certificate in licensed practical nursing within 2-3 semesters. During that time, they will gain nursing experience through both classroom and laboratory work, learning how to care for patients across a variety of healthcare settings. In addition, certificate programs prepare students for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses “NCLEX-PN)”,which is required to practice as an LPN.

Following is Educational Prerequisites:

In order to qualify for an LPN certificate program students must first earn a high school diploma or "GED". Colleges may also require applicants to pass basic aptitude tests, which gauge fundamental English and math skills. Additionally some schools necessitate that students complete introductory biology and anatomy courses before enrolling.

Continuing Education Information :

LPN certificate holders can go on to earn an associates or bachelors degree in nursing, both of which qualify them to take the NCLEX for registered nurses “RNs”. Registered nurses supervise licensed practical nurses and work more closely with physicians.

LPN Training

An LPN training course first involves having a high school diploma or GED. Usually entrance exams are required at most schools. The course of study for the PN student is usually between 12-24 months. Some of the required courses include the following,Fundamentals of Nursing, Anatomy and Physiology, Nutrition, Medical-Surgical nursing, Pharmacology, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Psychiatric nursing and a clinical component supervised by an instructor. The training for the PN student can take place at a community college, private college or trade school.Once an LPN graduates from a school, they are eligible to take the licensing exam called the NCLEX-PN. Upon passing this exam, the person is now licensed and able to work in their state.

LPN are usually supervised by a Registered Nurse RN or a physician. LPNs work in many different areas besides hospitals. They also work in clinics, long term care facilities, home health nursing, prisons, and can teach in LPN programs. The greatest need for LPN is going to be in home health care and long term care the higher demand for this occupation results from the aging baby boomer population and a general increase in demand for more health care services.

The LPN is a person who can walk a mile in another person’s shoes. The nurse needs to have empathy and be a caring and confident individual. With professional advantages and personal rewards, the role of the LPN has it all.