How to Become a Hospice Nurse
How to Become a Hospice Nurse
Hospice nursing is unique among nursing positions, due to it taking place during the final weeks of the patient’s life.
While this may seem an emotionally difficult task for some, it can be highly rewarding for others.
If being a hospice nurse is for you, you’re probably wondering how to break in. As with any job, getting your foot in the door can be the hardest part.
For this reason, we’ve gathered some helpful tips that can guide your way to becoming a hospice nurse.
Get Registered
The first step to becoming a hospice nurse—or any kind of nurse—is to get registered.
Getting registered as a nurse can be done by graduating from college with either an ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) or a B.S. in Nursing. It’s also possible to get an M.S. degree in Nursing, which not only provides more education but may also result in higher wages down the line.
Once you’ve graduated with your nursing degree, all you have to do next is pass the NCLEX-RN exam and you’ll officially become a registered nurse in your state.
Get Experience
After becoming a registered nurse, you may not be able to get your dream job right out of the gate. You’ll likely need to gain a few years of experience in an Intensive Care Unit or similar environment in order to prove that you can take care of high-needs patients.
However, it’s not merely about gaining work experience. During these jobs, you’ll develop your abilities as a nurse and as a human being, so that you’ll be ready when your hospice job arrives.
Get Certified
The NBCHPN (National Board for Certification and Palliative Care Nurses) provides a number of certifications for nurses, based on specific positions and roles in a hospice environment. In addition, certification requires at least 500 hours of experience as a hospice or palliative nurse.
While getting one of these certifications isn’t necessary to become a hospice nurse, it’s highly recommended if you want to stand out from the crowd. As with most certifications, nurses are required to get recertified every four years.
In addition to the recertifications, many states require nurses to take continued education in order to work.
What it Takes to Become a Hospice Nurse
Becoming a hospice nurse is a lot of work, but that work is fulfilling and necessary to ensure that patients get the highest quality of care during their end-of-life process.
And once you’ve become a hospice nurse, job stability shouldn’t be an issue, considering the ever-growing need for hospice care.
Whether you end up working as a hospice nurse in a nursing home or at the home of a patient, it’s a profession that can give you not only financial security, but work that is emotionally and spiritually rewarding.
Would you like to learn more about hospice care? Reach out to Divinity Hospice online or by phone (281-339-7079). We give your loved ones the respect, attention, and personalized care they deserve.