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Have you ever wondered about nursing certification and what all the hype is about? Do you really need a bunch of initials after your name? And, what does it all mean anyway? Let’s explore the truth about hospice nurse certification together.
Do you really need it?
To be honest, I used to daydream about my initials before I ever received them. It might sound a little hokey but at least I’m keeping it real.
I remember graduating from nursing school and being so excited to change my signature from RNLP to RN. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get there. And, nothing was more pleasing than signing my name and initials on any document that I could.
I’ve even been known to write them on a check or even my daughter’s homework. 🙂
(Sometimes, a girl’s just goes into auto-pilot.)
In the past, I was happy with my RN initials. Especially given how hard I had worked to get them.
Despite my pleasure with my RN initials, my employer encouraged me to take the oncology nurse certification. I was pretty sure that it wasn’t a big deal. They signed me up for a review course and I set out on my journey to become certified. (And, to get me some more initials.)
Here’s what I’ve learned about certifications over the years and what you need to know about the hospice nurse certification.
What is the hospice certification?
First and foremost, nursing certification is a way for nurses to display expertise in their chosen career field. According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center, when nurses obtain their certification, it demonstrates their expertise and commitment to the profession.
Therefore, hospice certification demonstrates the hospice nurses’ advanced knowledge and clinical judgement in end-of-life care.
Hospice is a field that specializes in end-of-life care. As such, hospice nurses manage complex pain and symptoms. They also oversee the hospice team aka the interdisciplinary group (IDG).
Hospice Nurse Certification Requirements
Registered nurses who seek certification must meet the requirements for the Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) exam.
The Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center is the certifying body for hospice nurses. And, they offer several certifications for nurses.
I have listed them a little farther down in this post.
Requirements:
- Must have a current RN license
- Experience in hospice and/or palliative care
- 500 hours of hospice or palliative experience in the past 12 months
- OR, 1,000 hours in the past 24 months prior to applying for exam
Exam Costs:
- Initial CHPN certification: $415 ($295 for HPNA members)
- Renewal CHPN certification: $380 ($260 for HPNA members)
The CHPN is offered through PSI and the application process is straightforward.
Just a little side note: If you don’t recertify two months before your renewal deadline, you will be charged an additional $100 (OUCH)!
I highly recommend that you apply for the HPNA membership before you apply for the test or re-certification. The reason for this is that you will receive access to several perks. First you will get access to professional journals. (Essential for professional development)
Secondly, you will get online continuing education units. Just as important, you will save some money. Always a plus in my book.
Hospice nurse certifications
- The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN®)
- Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN®)
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN®)
- The Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant (CHPNA®)
- Certified in Perinatal Loss Care (CPLC®)
- The Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse (CHPLN®)
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator (CHPCA®) (maintained through recertification only)
5 Benefits of Hospice Nurse Certification
Believe it or not there are several benefits to getting certified. If you recall, I mentioned that I wasn’t too sure that it really mattered. Well, I was WRONG! What I came to realize is that my certification is just as important having my degree. It has opened many doors during my career. And it has also garnered the respect of my peers.
(My hard work didn’t hurt either.)
But, most importantly, certification has forced me to stay on the cutting edge of innovation in hospice and palliative care. (So let’s talk benefits.)
1. Improved Patient Outcomes:
Personally, I think this is the best reason to become certified. Especially if it means patients get better care. Research seems to suggest a link between nurse certification and improved patient outcomes. For instance, some units had a decrease in falls while others reported improved mortality.
2. Professional Development:
It is one thing to become a nurse. And that is a great accomplishment. But, it is another thing to take to time to become certified in your field. Believe it or not, some organizations say that they would hire a certified nurse over a non-certified nurse. This alone should get you fired up.
Taking the time to get certified shows a true commitment to excellence.
3. Increased Pay:
Brace yourself!
Certified nurses can make as much as $9500 more/year than their non-certified peers.
A 2011 survey found that certified nurses make about $9400 more per year than non-certified nurses. Why is this?
Many organizations offer pay increases and bonuses to nurses who are certified. This is a great way to give yourself a raise instead of waiting on an annual increase.
I have worked in two Magnet-designated organizations and they both reimbursed for certification.
To get started, I suggest you check out your benefits guide to get more information. You can also check around with your fellow nurses. They should be able to point you in the right direction.
If all else fails, reach out to your Human Resources department for more information.
If you work in hospice, there is a good chance that your employer offers some sort of incentive for becoming certified.
4. Boosts your confidence:
Again, certification is linked to expertise. Nurses often report a sense of empowerment once they become certified. And this is certainly something that I can relate to.
Let me say this again. Certification demonstrates expert knowledge and clinical judgement.
Personally, it feels great when I give presentations and I am able to say that I am a certified hospice and palliative nurse. It carries a certain weight to it. This is a great way to boost your confidence.
It get that it is hard to brag on ourselves. So, let your initials do it for you!
5. You Become a Role Model
As a nurse leader, I want to set a good example for the nurses I work with. In other words, experienced nurses who obtain certification are great role models for new nurses. Not only can you set the bar in your organization, you can also lift up your peers.
(Definitely beats eating our young!)
Do you really need hospice certification to work in hospice?
Well, my answer to this is two-fold. If you are interested in hospice, then you should make sure you understand what hospice nurses do. Honestly, hospice is tough and rewarding. It also requires an acceptance that you can’t “fix” the patient. Sometimes this transition can be difficult for nurses.
So here is my best response to this questions.
- No, you do not need to be certified to start your hospice career. In fact, you must have hospice experience before you can apply for certification. Over the course of your first year with hospice you will learn a lot about hospice fundamentals.
- YES, you should become certified as soon as you are eligible. For some, this might be after one or two years. For others, this might be after many years.
Keep in mind, certified nurses get more respect, more pay, and have increased job satisfaction! Not to mention the benefits to patients and their families.
Becoming certified will help instill confidence in your patients regarding your abilities to care for them. Not to mention all of the benefits listed above.
CONCLUSION
Let’s wrap it up shall we.
Do You REALLY Need It? In short, YES!!
Hospice nurse certification demonstrates the expert training and knowledge that is required to provide hospice care. Furthermore, it captures the holistic care that is provided to patients and their families.
Benefits of hospice care:
- Improved patient care
- Professional Development
- Increased Pay
- Boost in Confidence
- Become a Role Model
Finally, when you are ready to become certified, there are several resources to help you prepare. It’s not as hard as it sounds. Your patients deserve the best and so do you!
You are worth it!