How to Become a Hospice Nurse
- Hospice Nurse Career Overview
- Steps to Becoming a Hospice Nurse
- Education Options
- Licensure and Certification
- Jobs and Salary
- FAQ
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Credit: Phynart Studio / E+ / Getty ImagesHospice nurses perform a vital role in healthcare, providing end-of-life care for patients. The work is emotionally demanding, but it can also be emotionally rewarding. Learn how to become a hospice nurse and what they do in this guide.
How Long to Become
2-4 years
Degree Required
ADN or BSN
Optional Certification
Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Is a Hospice Nurse?
Hospice nurses care for terminal patients in the last six months of their lives. They can work in patients’ homes, hospice care settings, or hospitals.
Although hospice and palliative care nursing are similar, palliative care nurses work with patients at all stages of illness to improve quality of life, while hospice nurses work exclusively with patients at the end of life.
Hospice nurses collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, social workers, and caregivers to provide support for patients and their families.
Hospice nursing emphasizes easing symptoms and keeping patients as comfortable as possible. This usually involves administering medications, wound care, and emotional support.
Steps to Becoming a Hospice Nurse
The first step in becoming a hospice nurse is earning a nursing degree and then a registered nurse (RN) license. You can pursue an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree. However, employers often prefer a BSN or higher. After gaining experience in palliative or hospice care, many nurses seek certification.
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Earn an ADN or BSN degree
An ADN takes two years, while a BSN takes four years. The BSN is valuable for career advancement, higher-level positions, and if you plan to earn a master’s degree. If you have an ADN and nursing experience, you can enroll in a one-year RN-to-BSN degree program later in your career.
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Pass the NCLEX exam to receive RN licensure
The NCLEX-RN is a multiple-choice examination covering nursing skills, including safety, administering medication and treatments, testing patients and taking samples, effective communication, and legal and ethical practices. Passing this exam enables you to legally practice as an RN.
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Gain experience in hospice nursing
New nurses can gain entry-level palliative and/or hospice nursing experience at hospice facilities, home health agencies, nursing homes, or hospitals. They can also gain hospice experience through internships and volunteering.
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Consider becoming a certified hospice and palliative nurse
While not mandatory, hospice and palliative nurse certification demonstrates your knowledge of hospice nursing and your commitment to the specialty. For certification, you need 500 hours of RN experience in hospice or palliative care in the past 12 months (or 1,000 hours in the past 24 months), a current unencumbered nursing license, and a passing grade on the certification examination from the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC).
Hospice Nurse Education
Becoming a hospice nurse requires earning a nursing degree, either an ADN or a BSN, and an RN license. The right pathway for you will depend on your background and goals.
ADN Degree
An ADN is faster, taking half the time a BSN requires. ADN programs typically are less competitive and more affordable. An ADN meets the minimum eligibility requirements for the NCLEX-RN exam and RN licensure. However, employers prefer or require a BSN for higher-level nursing positions.
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate, math and science classes, 2.0 GPA or higher
- Program Curriculum: Nursing skills, communication, nursing principles, legal and ethical considerations
- Time to Complete: Two years
- Skills Learned: Administering medication, using medical equipment, treating wounds, monitoring patient vital signs and condition, updating medical records
BSN Degree
In addition to the ADN curriculum, a BSN program also covers the theory and practice of nursing, nursing leadership, research, and evidence-based practice. This additional education is why many employers require or strongly prefer BSN-prepared nurses. A BSN degree allows nurses to more easily pursue a master of science in nursing (MSN) later in their careers.
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate, math and science classes, typically a 3.0 GPA or higher
- Program Curriculum: Nursing skills, leadership, data and research analysis, communications, legal and ethical considerations
- Time to Complete: Four years
- Skills Learned: Medication administration, wound care, taking and monitoring patient vital signs, understanding and applying evidence-based practice, performing basic nursing analytics
Hospice Nurse Licensure and Certification
You need an active RN license to work as a hospice nurse. Maintaining your license requires verified continuing education for nurses, such as attending approved conferences, classes, or webinars.
Specialty certification is not required for becoming a hospice nurse, but it is a valuable credential.
The HPCC offers the certified hospice and palliative nurse (CHPN) credential. Requirements include at least 500 hours of experience in hospice or palliative care in the past 12 months or 1,000 hours in the last 24 months, a current and unencumbered RN license, and passing the certification examination.
CHPNs must renew their certification every four years. This involves fulfilling practice hour requirements, continuing professional education requirements, completing an application, and paying a fee.
Working as a Hospice Nurse
Hospice nurses work in homes, hospice facilities, and nursing homes. In a home setting, they educate family and friends on patient comfort care. Depending on the patient’s needs, hospice nurses work with social workers, clergy, psychologists, and other mental wellness care providers.
According to Payscale, the average hospice nurse’s salary was $73,337 per year as of May 2024. Nursing salaries vary based on education, experience, and geographic location, among other factors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% job growth for all RNs from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the national average growth of 3% for all jobs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Hospice Nurse
Hospice nurses provide end-of-life care to terminally ill patients. They focus on comfort and symptom management, collaborate with the healthcare team, and provide comprehensive emotional support to patients and their families.
Related Pages
What Are the Pros and Cons of Hospice Nursing?
Two hospice nurses share insights into the pros and cons of pursuing a career in this challenging but rewarding specialty.
How to Become a Palliative Care Nurse
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