Further education in Hospice and Palliative care

marachne · Feb 14, 2009

Does anyone know if there is a specific Hospice and/or palliative care degree program anywhere? I have my CHPN and want to pursue a degree but not just BSN.

What kind of a degree? Do you mean you want a graduate degree? A clinical degree? It is possible to get an NP with a hospice and palliative care focus, but it's really not recommended. For one thing, it is not universally recognized (someone I know with that kind of training, when she moved to Oregon it was recognized as a CNS, not an NP), if someone wanted to go that route I'd suggest an FNP (it has the broadest application, and in many places is the only APN degree that can bill medicare), and then further certification in AP hospice and palliative care.

Otherwise, I don't know what kind of degree you'd be looking at. There trainings like the ELNEC train-the-trainer trainings, but again, I don't know what exactly you are looking for, and to what end.

Can you give more information about what your goals of further education are?

CLWCHPN · Feb 14, 2009

Thank you for replying.

I am not looking to go into administration or management. Nor do I want to get my NP. Ideally I would like to combine a clinical educator position with hands-on nursing. There isn't a clinical educator position at my current Hospice, so at this point it's more just for my own (and my patients) benefit. I am a foreign graduate and after 12 years in the US still don't understand the degrees here or accreditation. I did find a correspondence Bachelors in Palliative care with the University of Dundee in Scotland which states it's accredited but I haven't been able to get in touch with anyone who's done it to know if it's any good.

Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

marachne · Feb 14, 2009

Thank you for replying.
I am not looking to go into administration or management. Nor do I want to get my NP. Ideally I would like to combine a clinical educator position with hands-on nursing. There isn't a clinical educator position at my current Hospice, so at this point it's more just for my own (and my patients) benefit. I am a foreign graduate and after 12 years in the US still don't understand the degrees here or accreditation. I did find a correspondence Bachelors in Palliative care with the University of Dundee in Scotland which states it's accredited but I haven't been able to get in touch with anyone who's done it to know if it's any good.
Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks.

I am not aware of any specialized programs at the BS level in the U.S. As for an accredited program in Scotland, that accreditation is unlikely to transfer to the U.S.

There are master's level nursing education degrees, but you probably want/need to get a BSN before you could matriculate into a masters program (if you even wanted that). You could see if you could take some master's level education courses, just to give you more of an understanding of how to design curriculum and assess learning as a non-matriculated student (i.e. you wouldn't be accepted into the program, but you may be allowed to take courses).

I wonder about the clinical educator role -- how big is your hospice, would it even support someone in that position?

Also, just as an aside, a dear friend of mine who has been an (ADN) nurse for about 30 years, recently took on the clinical educator position for her institution's hospice. This was a large hospital system with both inpatient and home hospice. She got the job because of her extensive experience that included teaching. Without that, I doubt she would have been considered.

CLWCHPN · Feb 15, 2009

Thanks. Our program currently wont support a clinical educator, but I think I'll work in that direction.

I appreciate the input and I'll try your suggestion of taking courses. T

pinkpinstripes · Jan 17, 2011

Does anyone know if there is a specific Hospice and/or palliative care degree program anywhere? I have my CHPN and want to pursue a degree but not just BSN.

To CLWCHPN, Yes the University of Dundee Palliative Care Program is NLN accredited ---always check their site before applying to schools---therefore it is recognized in the U.S.

SoCalRN1970 · Jan 18, 2011

To CLWCHPN, Yes the University of Dundee Palliative Care Program is NLN accredited ---always check their site before applying to schools---therefore it is recognized in the U.S.

I am getting my BSN in Palliative care.

It's a degree that is specialized and only found at the University of Dundee UK. I am state side and it's an acceptable degree.. check ti out.

ErinS, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2011

I am getting my MSN in education. I hope to go into home care management so I can push for better marketing/budgeting for hospice, and also teach generals like pharm and med/surg with a focus on end of life. I feel that pain management is not taught well in nursing school, and end of life is barely mentioned.