Hospice nurses provide many services to patients for which certification is beneficial. Included services are: providing skilled nursing procedures, bedside care, creating nursing plans of care and being the liaison with the attending physician. Nurses must complete an approved nursing program and pass national licensing exams. The minimum degree in nursing is usually a two- or three-year associate's degree program, with classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience. Coursework in nursing also includes anatomy, psychology, chemistry and nutrition.
Hospice nurses work outside the hospital setting, leading a team of physicians, social workers, chaplains, therapists and family members. Because the hospice nurse works with end-of-life issues, this career can be emotionally taxing. Many states require hospice nurses to receive additional certification above and beyond traditional nurses. Hospice nurses generally first obtain a bachelor of science in nursing to become a registered nurse. Additional training includes two years working in a certified hospice practice, followed by passing the test administered by the National Board for Certification of Hospice Nurses.
Hospice nurses deal with people who are dying; the patients know it and their families know it. Although similar to oncology (cancer) nurses and home health nurses, hospice nurses must also demonstrate the highest level of compassion while providing comfort and reassurance. Hospice nurses make it possible for terminally ill patients to spend their final days in the comfort of their own homes, with family and friends nearby.
Training and certification as a hospice nurse can take anywhere from two years to six years or more of coursework. Although hospice nurses can be qualified with just an associate's degree, most employers prefer at least a bachelor of science in nursing, as well as a valid registered nursing license. Advanced skill and technical training as a clinical nurse specialist consists of a master's degree and/or specialized training in oncology (cancer), and increases the value of hospice nurses.
The major portion of hospice nursing care is called palliative care, which means only giving comfort and pain relief, but not an attempt to cure the patient of any ailments. Hospice nurses can choose to work with a specific patient population, or within a certain patient setting, or with patients suffering from a particular disorder, disease or condition. The patients of hospice nurses come from all walks of life and social, educational, cultural and economic backgrounds, and terminally suffer from a wide range of life-threatening diseases, including AIDS and cancer.