CHPN Certification

Specialties Hospice

Published

Hello all!

I just received a grant from my employer to take the CHPN exam (they are also going to cover my HPNA membership). All of the other costs I am going to have to pay for which include travel 2 hours to take the test, and any course related materials.

I figure at least purchasing the core content book is a no-brainer, but I am wondering what everyone's opinion is about the Study Guide and the Online Course Review.

I am worried about studying from just the book, as I am not a leaner who is successful with just reading, but at $150 for the course, I just don't know if it is worth it.

Also anyone know where I could find a copy of the book used, I have struck out on ebay, Amazon and all the textbook rental sites.

Thoughts?? Thank you all in advance!!

ktwlpn, LPN

3,844 Posts

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

I know a few RN's who bombed the cert,I recommend you use every tool available.Keep me posted...They had to pay back the costs and pay to retake.

CaptKris

116 Posts

it's a lot of meds. My employer reimburses for the test if you pass and gives you a small bonus but it costs about $350 for the test and you get $500 - taxes bonus. To me it seems like a wash. The only people that take it and pass it are those that want management. I hope it helps you. It's a lot of work for not a lot of reward in many places.

Luckily, it is a grant that I get no matter if I pass or not, so that pressure is off. I like what was said about using every resource available to me, that makes sense. The $225 for the books and the class is a small amount compared to the stress and humiliation of not passing this exam. AND my husband thinks the expenses are tax deductible, but we will leave that for the accountant to figure out.

I am already a Charge Nurse, and I do not have a desire to go higher management than that; however I will be the only CHPN on my 36 bed Medical/Oncology hospital unit, so it will give me a lot of chances to educate the rest of the staff nurses.

Thanks everyone for the input! I am really excited to get started, H & P is something I am really passionate about, so I am looking forward to having more education in this area!

ktwlpn, LPN

3,844 Posts

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

Certs matter.I'm the first at my facility.

mrstack

3 Posts

hi, hope you don't mind me hopping in, but i'm curious about getting my cert as well, but don't even know where to begin! I've been a hospice nurse the last 4 years and am now in management. I'll have to pay for the whole process myself. How awesome that you got a grant! Can i ask you, DisneyNurseGal, about what steps you've taken so far?

lantanaRN

23 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics and hospice palliative nursin.

Do the online review. How long have you been a hospice nurse? The exam is tough, almost tougher than boards, do not focus on what YOUR hospice does remember that others do it differently Know the medicare regs, drugs most commonly used etc. 4 years ago they were really focusing on palliative care, including labs we don't do, etc. If you have never taken the CHPN get the book, but did not know it was now 150 dollars!! Bad enough the exam is close to 400. My employer used to pay for the first exam, but to keep our encentive pay we had to retake on our own dime. Now they don't even take that into account, except to be an RN3 I must continue taking the exam every 4 years. The more experience you have obviously the easier it is. I have taken it 3 times, I do not study, never have, count on my experience and photographic memory

lantanaRN

23 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics and hospice palliative nursin.

Capt Kris, I do not want management but want to be the best in my field, therefore I take it. The ABC's behind my name tell my patients I am an expert in my field

pupquilt

2 Posts

Certification is not just for management! And the test is not that difficult. If you buy the manual and know it, you will be fine. Probably the reason you can't find the manual used is because there is a new edition and I think it is important to get the new one.

Specializes in Informatics / Trauma / Hospice / Immunology.

I passed using the core manual and the Mometrix chpn practice questions book which has decent rationales. The test is right out of the core book but there is a lot of material there. Also most questions are scenario type. I like the question book because it makes it a bit more interactive.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN

1,907 Posts

Specializes in Hospice.
Capt Kris, I do not want management but want to be the best in my field, therefore I take it. The ABC's behind my name tell my patients I am an expert in my field

No, the ABCs behind your name mean nothing when it comes to doing a job well. They just mean you paid for a lot of certifications and feel really, really important.

As a patient or family member, I would be much more impressed with you if you jumped on symptoms quickly to maximize comfort and held my hand when I needed it.

You don't need a can of alphabet soup slapped behind your name to know that.

Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.
I passed using the core manual and the Mometrix chpn practice questions book which has decent rationales. The test is right out of the core book but there is a lot of material there. Also most questions are scenario type. I like the question book because it makes it a bit more interactive.

Glad to see a good review about the practice book. I just received it today and hope it will help me adequately prepare.

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