LPN Hospice Certification question

robhuden · Sep 21, 2012

The HPNA requires 2 years exp. The practice book is pretty easy compaired to the actual test. You may want to look into a review class too. It helped me a lot. You don't have to be certified to be a hospice nurse though, and if you get on somewhere they may help you pay for it. Good luck.

curiousauntie · Sep 21, 2012

Actually, HPNA does not "require" 2 years, it "suggests" 2 years. I worked in hospice for 4 years (I'm an RN) before I took the exam, and studied HARD for it, and when I finished it, was not sure if I passed. And I have always been a very good test taker. Hospice has so many nuances in it's practice that it takes at least a year for it to fully fall into place for most people. Good luck, and I second the above poster, try to find a review class. I didn't, but did get notes from one of our corporate nurses who teaches a class. There was info on those notes that was NOT in the Core Corriculium that was on the test!

hollyjr · Sep 21, 2012

I'm an LPN. I worked for hospice less than 2 years before taking the certification. I did participate in a test review class and found it very beneficial. It's a tough test, but if you're feeling that confident, try it!

wigglesgogo · Oct 3, 2012

Can anyone tell me where to find a review class? I have been searching without success. Thanks

mc3, ASN, RN · Oct 4, 2012

I took it a little over a year after I started working at hospice, and I started hospice right out of nursing school. HPNA does only "suggest" it. If you're comfortable, go for it! I passed with at 98% pass rate. You can do it! I never received any recognition or $$ from either hospice I worked at for the CHPLN, I just did it for the satisfaction of knowing I could do it. I've not seen it as a requirement on any job openings I've seen for LPN's in hospice. IV skills, yes, but no CHPLN. If you haven't already done so, take an IV course and get certified there.

(BTW, when you take an IV course, try to take it at your community college. The private companies will only "certify" you for 1 year, then you have to pay a recertification fee each year thereafter. It's just a money-maker for them; it's not required by the BON in either state I've worked in. The community colleges will give you certification "for life".)

Good luck with whatever you decide! As far as a review class, there really isn't one that I'm aware of. The only "review class" I went to was put on by a different hospice for their, and other, hospice employees. It wasn't an open class.

mc3:nurse:

wigglesgogo · Oct 5, 2012

Thanks for your response. I am scheduled to take an IV course soon as well.

Juryizout · Oct 5, 2012

Mc3, I am about to graduate and already work for the staffing agency for our hospice organization. I wondered if I could ask you about your early days as a new nurse: did you encounter any major problems with assessment since you went straight from school to hospice? I have been researching via Allnurses and have seen very few who have done what you have accomplished. Their reasons were mostly that they had not been on a med-surg floor and didn't have that experience to glean from. Any thoughts or suggestions or insights by you (when you have time) would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

mc3, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2012

Yes, I was very, very lucky to have a great hospice mentor and supervisor. I didn't have any problem whatsoever. I think it was because I knew in my heart that it was what I wanted to do. I totally understood the hospice concept long before I even became a nurse, because we had hospice for my Mom. However, I don't they did nearly as good a job as they could have, but that's another story. Hospice is very "gentle" - I don't know another way to describe it. You do have to change your mindset from "how can we fix this" to "how we can help this person and their loved ones be comfortable" which are two entirely different things. That's the biggest challenge. Your focus is on what the patient and family wants. Sometimes the families and patients are at odds with their loved ones decision. It takes a lot of education and TLC from you to help them through this. As far as skills, the most important to me are looking at non-verbal signs of pain and discomfort. Try and be keenly aware of what that patient is telling you, either verbally or non-verbally. Try to think "how could I make this more comfortable for me (or my family). I dunno....I think hospice nurses are "born" and it's hard to describe it. You either have a feeling for it, or not. So many people said "Oh, I don't know how you can do hospice". My response was always. How can I not? I know I can't fix what's wrong but I do have the ability to make the patient comfortable and as pain-free as possible. That's a gift, to me.

OK, I'll get off the hospice soap box now. I do hope I answered your question. If you'd like, you can PM me with more questions.

mc3:nurse:

Juryizout · Oct 6, 2012

Yes, I was very, very lucky to have a great hospice mentor and supervisor. I didn't have any problem whatsoever. I think it was because I knew in my heart that it was what I wanted to do. I totally understood the hospice concept long before I even became a nurse, because we had hospice for my Mom. However, I don't they did nearly as good a job as they could have, but that's another story. Hospice is very "gentle" - I don't know another way to describe it. You do have to change your mindset from "how can we fix this" to "how we can help this person and their loved ones be comfortable" which are two entirely different things. That's the biggest challenge. Your focus is on what the patient and family wants. Sometimes the families and patients are at odds with their loved ones decision. It takes a lot of education and TLC from you to help them through this. As far as skills, the most important to me are looking at non-verbal signs of pain and discomfort. Try and be keenly aware of what that patient is telling you, either verbally or non-verbally. Try to think "how could I make this more comfortable for me (or my family). I dunno....I think hospice nurses are "born" and it's hard to describe it. You either have a feeling for it, or not. So many people said "Oh, I don't know how you can do hospice". My response was always. How can I not? I know I can't fix what's wrong but I do have the ability to make the patient comfortable and as pain-free as possible. That's a gift, to me.
OK, I'll get off the hospice soap box now. I do hope I answered your question. If you'd like, you can PM me with more questions.
mc3:nurse:

Dear Mc3,

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! I love what I do, even though it's sad at the end. I appreciate your encouragement, and will message you soon after all these exams are over (Med Surg II).

Thanks again,

Akilah1 · Jul 17, 2015

Great to know about the IV certification. Will start checking community colleges.