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What Is an Hospice Nurse?

Terminal illness is an unfortunate circumstance that no one wants to face or see their loved ones endure. A hospice nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who helps hospice patients, those who are no longer seeking curative treatment and need comfort care nursing support. Also known as terminal care nurses, they focus on giving their patients the best quality of life possible before passing away. 

It鈥檚 key to note that hospice and palliative care overlap but are not the same. Palliative care nurses help with decreasing pain and symptoms at any stage of a patient鈥檚 illness. Hospice care nurses, on the other hand, emphasize comfort when a patient is likely to pass away in the coming days or months. 

Hospice nurses are critical instruments in the healthcare landscape. Their specialized ability to make challenging situations as smooth as possible makes them invaluable assets to various care teams. 

If you want to make an individual鈥檚 last days full of meaningful care, working as a hospice RN may be the right career for you. In this guide, we鈥檒l discuss duties, skills, how to become a hospice nurse and more. 

What Does a Hospice Nurse Do?

A hospice nurse鈥檚 duties range from administering medications and pain management to spiritual and emotional support. Depending on the patient鈥檚 needs, they may focus on managing pain and symptom relief some days and coordinating care with other healthcare providers on others. 

End-of-life care can be financially and emotionally challenging not only for patients, but for their loved ones. Hospice nurses educate them about illnesses, medications and what to expect as the patient鈥檚 condition progresses. In some cases, they help loved ones with advanced care planning and grief counseling support, answering questions and addressing concerns. 

Where Do Hospice Nurses Work?

There are various settings where a hospice nurse practices. Their location often depends on the patient鈥檚 care plan, as coordinated between the nurse and the patient鈥檚 other providers. 

• Hospice care centers: These facilities provide comprehensive care for terminally ill patients that is otherwise not feasible in the patient鈥檚 home. 
• Nursing homes and assisted living facilities: Residents at these facilities may need specialized care, and hospice nurses manage and coordinate care with the staff. 
• Hospitals: Palliative care units support patients who are transitioning from curative treatment to end-of-life care. 
• Patient homes: Home hospice RNs care for patients in their homes, allowing for comfort and emotional care as well as supporting loved ones. 

Skills and Qualities of a Successful Hospice Nurse

Beyond the advanced knowledge needed to be an RN, hospice nurse skills are a unique combination of emotional strength, critical thinking, empathy and more. 

• Compassion and empathy: It鈥檚 essential for hospice nurses to offer not just medical attention, but compassionate care and support for patients and loved ones. 
• Communication: Hospice nurses often facilitate difficult conversations as part of end-of-life care, like educating loved ones and navigating sensitive matters. This requires strong active listening and clear communication skills. 
• Emotional resilience and stress management: It鈥檚 never easy to care for someone who鈥檚 passing away, so hospice nurses must be emotionally resilient. They also need effective self-care and coping skills to avoid compassion fatigue or burnout. 
• Critical thinking and problem-solving: Hospice nurses offer creative solutions to ensure patients are as comfortable as possible, requiring advanced critical thinking skills. 
• Organization and collaboration: Providers, insurance carriers and various other professionals comprise a patient鈥檚 care team, and it鈥檚 up to the hospice nurse to coordinate support effectively. 

How to Become an Hospice Nurse

In addition to becoming an RN, hospice nurse requirements and preferences include a few additional components, like specialized experience and certification. Here鈥檚 a brief step-by-step guide on how to become a hospice nurse: 

Hospice Nurse Salary and Job Outlook

Hospice nurse salaries are often lumped together with RN salaries and can increase with certification and experience. Also, income often varies based on state and setting. Many hospice nursing jobs include benefits as well as stability, as the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 189,100 openings from 2024 to 2034.

In the U.S., registered nurses earn an average annual salary of $93,600.¹

Registered nurse roles, including hospice nurse jobs, are projected to grow 5% from 2024-2025.¹

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