A palliative care nurse cares for patients who are at any stage of serious illness and need help with pain and symptom management needs. Unlike hospice care, in which patients must have a life expectancy of six months or less if the disease process follows its natural course, patients receiving care within a stand-alone palliative care framework do not have to be facing end of life. Additionally, although hospice patients receive comfort care only, palliative care patients can continue to receive both curative and comfort care. Depending upon the care framework and location of employment, the roles of palliative care nurses and hospice nurses may overlap.
What Does a Palliative Care Nurse do?
The palliative care nurse is a member of an interdisciplinary team that provides a holistic and person-centered approach to care. In addition to addressing physical needs, the palliative care team provides psychosocial and spiritual support to both the patient and their family. In addition to the palliative care nurse, other interdisciplinary team members may include physicians, social workers, counselors, chaplains, and other healthcare professionals.
Palliative care nurses are usually registered nurses (RNs) or nurse practitioners (NPs). Nurse practitioners may also be referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). The palliative care nurse’s scope of practice is determined by the individual’s credentials and state practice laws. A palliative care nurse’s duties are also influenced by the work setting.
In addition to other role scenarios—such as working on an inpatient palliative care team—palliative care nurses may function as case managers coordinating all aspects of the patient’s care. To address the patient’s pain and symptom management needs, the palliative care nurse may need to provide highly-skilled types of care and must be familiar with appropriate interventions for pain and symptom management.
The duties of a palliative care nurse may include:
Assess and monitor the patient’s status
Document the patient’s medical history and symptoms in the patient’s record
Create and update the patient’s plan of care
Collaborate with the patient and family, members of the interdisciplinary team, and other healthcare professionals as needed
Administer medications and treatments
Perform various procedures to address symptoms
Operate and monitor medical equipment
Teach patients and their families regarding symptom management—including administration of medications
Provide emotional support to the patient and family
If a palliative care nurse is also functioning in a hospice nurse role, additional duties may apply. Please see our Hospice Nurse Career Guide.
Palliative care nurses must be kind, compassionate, and possess a specialized skillset and knowledge related to palliative care. Since they may face an array of challenges when working in any setting, they must possess keen problem-solving skills and be adept at crisis management.
How is a Palliative Care Nurse Different From a Hospice Nurse?
As noted, a palliative care nurse cares for seriously ill patients at any stage of the disease process who need support for pain and symptom management. Unlike hospice patients, patients who are receiving palliative care can continue to receive curative care. Since some hospice organizations also provide palliative care services, a palliative care nurse may function in both roles.
The field of palliative care has been growing rapidly for more than two decades—both within the hospital setting and in the community. As the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) notes, community-based palliative care uniquely meets the care gap that may be faced by individuals who need support but who either don’t qualify for hospital admission or don’t want to be admitted. This may also be true for those who don’t qualify for home care or hospice. Additionally, some individuals who may qualify for hospice may not be ready to make the decision to enroll.
In all of these instances, community-based palliative care can provide the critical support needed to help patients remain in charge of their healthcare decision-making, receive care in their setting of choice, and improve their quality of life.
How Much Does a Palliative Care Nurse Make Per Year?
Salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reflects a median annual wage for registered nurses of $77,600 in May 2021—with half of nurses earning more than that amount and half earning less. The wages of nurses in the highest 10 percent were over $120,250, while the wages of nurses in the lowest 10 percent were less than $59,450.
Although the BLS does not provide pay rates according to specialty, it does provide median annual wages for registered nurses according to the work location. Since palliative care nurses may care for patients in homes, hospitals, and ambulatory care settings, the following BLS pay ranges reported for May 2021 may apply, depending upon the palliative care nurse’s employer:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $85,020
Offices of Physicians: $73,860
Home Health Services: $78,190
Outpatient Care Centers: $93,070
The pay a palliative care nurse receives is also influenced by factors such as education, experience, and geographical region of the country.
A palliative care nurse may work in a variety of settings, including:
A hospital setting as a member of a palliative care team
An ambulatory care setting—such as a clinic or physician’s office—that provides support for patients who are able to travel to receive care
A community setting—in which the palliative care nurse visits patients in their homes or assisted living and skilled nursing facilities
How Do I Become a Palliative Care Nurse?
It can be quite helpful to have a solid nursing foundation prior to becoming a palliative care nurse. This is especially true for palliative care nurses who are working independently with seriously ill palliative care patients in their homes.
As with other types of nursing, the educational and licensure path to becoming a palliative care nurse depends upon the credentials involved. Palliative care nurses who are registered nurses must attend an accredited nursing program that leads to a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a nursing diploma.
RNs must also be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and meeting state nursing board requirements. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a resource to determine state-based nursing licensure requirements. A palliative care nurse who is an RN can also obtain specialty certification by meeting eligibility requirements and taking the Certified Hospice Palliative Nurse (CHPN®) exam.
Palliative care nurses who are advanced practice nurses are licensed registered nurses who obtain at least a master’s degree in their specialty role, pass a national certification exam, and hold an APRN license in their state. A palliative care nurse who is a nurse practitioner can obtain specialty certification by meeting eligibility requirements and taking the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN®) exam.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Palliative Care Nurse?
Palliative care nurses can benefit from the rich rewards of providing holistic care to help seriously ill patients find relief from pain and other symptoms to help improve their quality of life. This approach helps to empower patients to help them remain in charge and align healthcare decision-making with the patient’s goals for care.
Additionally, palliative care nurses who work in the community often enjoy a great deal of independence and autonomy—with the support of an interdisciplinary team behind them.
Additional Resources About Becoming a Palliative Care Nurse
To learn more about becoming a palliative care nurse, these additional resources may help:
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