• Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing
• Registered Nursing Certification
• CHPN or CHPLN (Certified Hospice Nurse)

Role

While there are different types of hospice nurses, all hospice nurses are responsible for helping patients in specific ways. Most hospice patients require this kind of help as they are finishing out their life, and it’s vital for all hospice nurses in any role to be qualified and prepared to help them. Some of their responsibilities include:

• Monitoring and documenting patient vital signs. An important part of hospice care is regularly checking on the health of a patient. This may be a daily or multiple-times-a-day requirement. A hospice RN will check vital signs, record any medical concerns or issues a patient has, and understands what all of these symptoms and signs mean for the patient. 
• Administering medications. Often hospice patients are taking medication, and hospice RNs are in charge of administering it for them. Whether this is shots, pills, or IV medication, hospice RNs are responsible for knowing when patients need their medicine, how much they need, and ensuring it is administered properly. 
• Managing symptoms and pain. A large part of hospice nursing is helping a patient feel comfortable as they end their life. These patients often aren’t receiving treatment to try and help them get better, but rather pain medication is administered to help them feel comfortable. Hospice registered nurses are responsible for talking to patients to understand if they are in pain, helping administer medication, and documenting what symptoms and medication a patient has. 
• Helping during crisis situations. End-of-life care often means that a patient can face crisis situations where they are close to death. A hospice RN is responsible for helping family and caregivers handle these crisis situations. Often hospice patients are DNR, or do not resuscitate, which means if they stop breathing or have heart problems, hospice registered nurses aren’t to extend their life. It’s critical for a hospice RN to know when to intervene and when to not intervene, to help family and caregivers and even the patient themselves understand, and to always focus on the patient and their family in crisis situations.
• Psychosocial support. Hospice care is complicated for the patient and family because they are dying. Mental, emotional, and social support is key during this time. Often hospice nurses become close to their patients and their families as they are with them during an extremely difficult time. It’s important for hospice nurses to be able to be professional while still offering that mental and social support to their patient and their family. 
• Spiritual support. Beyond social and emotional support, many patients and their families seek spiritual support as death comes closer. Hospice nurses can offer help and kindness to patients and their families as they navigate thoughts of death and loss. Spirituality can often help hospice patients feel calm and relaxed about death, so hospice nurses can increase the peace and comfort a patient feels by offering spiritual support.
• Educating family caregivers. A large role of any hospice nurse is to keep the patient and their family educated about what will happen. Family members often appreciate transparency and want to be in control as much as possible. Hospice nurses can educate family members on the condition of the patient, on medications, show how to provide comfort from pain, and offer that support that is crucial to helping them cope with a difficult situation.