How to.....

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Hello! I'm looking to become certified in hospice and palliative care. I have been on the NBCHPN website and it appears that you have to simply apply and take the exam. My question is what is required prior to taking the test. I know they recommend 2 years of experience, but what are the requirements other than applying and passing the exam? Thanks in advance for your help. :nurse:

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

That it! Just study you butt off, apply and pass the test. My certification expires this year and I'm excited to know that it's now computerized. 5 years ago it was paper and pencil and a 6 week wait for the results. Good luck!

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Thank you and good luck to you as well!

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So you don't need 2 years experience, you can just take the exam!? I am a new grad with a prenursing background in ministry who really wants to do hospice. That's why I went to nursing school. They seem to want 2 years medsurg, but I am having trouble finding a medsurg job right out of school (they all want experience too!) and am working in ltc. I don't want this to prevent me from being able to do hospice, so was delighted with the idea that I could get certified without the 2 years medsurg. Wow. This is probably too good to be true. If this is the case, are there any study materials, etc that you would recommend? Thanks!

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Ok so here is the low down, I called the NBHPN and they said that it is an "exam of experience" and she seemed to strongly recommend that you have experience prior to taking the exam HOWEVER, it is not required. There is a list of suggested references for this test on their website and out of this list she said that RN's use "Core Curriculum for the Generalist Hoospice and Palliative Nurse" by Berry, P. ......and the second book is "Study Guide for the Generalist Hospice and Palliatve Nurse" by Borstelmann, L.

@Jylnn I am a new grad too and getting a job in any specialty or otherwise is tough right now in So Cal so hopefully this will help. In the meantime I am going to volunteer with a hospice care center. Also, if you join the HPNA you get a huge discount on the test and study books plus the info on that site is awsome. Testing months for this year are June, Sept, and Dec. I wish you good luck in getting a great job!

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Thank you! I started looking at the materials today. :-)

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Specializes in Oncology, Palliative care.

I am looking at taking the exam sometime later in the year, but I do have Hospice & Oncology experience.

I chatted with a Hospice DON about this qualification; she told me she recommended to all nurses not to sit this until you had some hospice experience. I have to agree with her as some of the questions I don't think you would know unless you have been in a Hospice environment.

What might help you to decide is if you look through the website there is actually a list of example practice questions, she how you find them. That might help you to decide whether you feel you would be ready to take it.

It is set out in multiple choice like the NCLEX Exam.

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Specializes in Oncology, Palliative care.

here it is, just click on the link to open up the Handbook:

http://www.nbchpn.org/DisplayPage.aspx?Title=Candidate%20Handbook

Check out the sample questions for the RN on page 24. You will see that the types of questions you are being asked are particularly pertinent to Hospice nursing.

Hope this is of help to you :)

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