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