PERT Program

Tip of the Month: April 2004


END-OF-LIFE RESOURCES FOR LICENSED PRACTICAL/VOCATIONAL NURSES (LP/VN) AND REGISTERED NURSES (RN)

Nurses are the largest group of healthcare professionals in the U.S. and as such have a significant role in ensuring quality in both life and death. Intimately involved in every aspect of end-of-life (EOL) care, nurses address the physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual needs of both patients and families. In order to provide expert EOL care, nurses must continue to update their knowledge and refine their skills to care for patients with life-limiting, progressive illnesses and their families.

The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) believes that the role of the professional nurse is critical to achieving the unique care goals of patients, families, and the community at EOL.¹ As a champion of this specialized role, HPNA offers many resources and educational opportunities to support the growth of nurses who provide hospice and palliative care. This Tip of the Month describes some of these resources. More information about ordering these resources and registering for conferences is available at www.hpna.org or by calling the HPNA National Office at (412) 787-9301.


Clinical Nursing Web-conferences. On the second Wednesday of each month, HPNA conducts a web-conference for clinical nurses from 12NOON to 1PM ET. The conferences are interactive and cover a broad range of subjects by experts in the field. Upcoming topics include Basics in Methadone Therapy, Pediatrics, Pain Management in Special Populations, and Spiritual Distress.

For the complete schedule, please go to the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) website and follow the Education links. Even if you missed the original airing of the web-conference you can still order a CD that includes the audio portion of the teleconference, PowerPoint® slides, transcripts, and post-tests for continuing education. The CDs can be played on any CD player, even the one in your car!

The Clinical Nursing teleconferences are $15 for HPNA members and $25 for non-members. Each teleconference is limited to 20 sites (there is no limit to number of participants per site), and registration is taken one month at a time. This is a wonderful way to receive continuing education without having to leave your worksite.


Clinical Review for the Generalist Hospice and Palliative Nurse. This full day training was developed for nurse participants, many of whom are staff development coordinators or educators, to obtain resources for teaching EOL care. Participants are provided curricular materials to be used in creating in-services and educational offerings. Participants become HPNA-approved instructors and can teach the curriculum to staff in their facility or agency, or to the community at large. Participants must be members of HPNA.

The program covers four modules that can be used to orient staff, provide continuing education, and assist with certification exam preparation. The four primary modules are Care Goals and Decisions in Palliative Care, Pain Management, Symptom Management, and Care at the Time of Dying. Additional modules are available for a fee. The Clinical Review is taught by Approved Educators that have attended a one-day Train-the-Trainer program. To find an Approved Educator in your area, look on the HPNA website under Education, or call the National Office.


Core Curriculum for the Generalist Hospice and Palliative Nurse. This 2002 publication comprehensively presents the core components of nursing care at the end of life. It is intended not only for hospice and palliative nurses, but also for nurses in any practice setting whose clients face a life-limiting illness. The Core Curriculum’s authors and editors are experts in hospice and palliative care. Chapters cover all major aspects of practice, and are written in an easy-to-follow outline format.

This book is a valuable resource for both the individual nurse or as an addition to a work setting library.


Study Guide for the Generalist Hospice and Palliative Nurse. This resource assists nurses to review the content of the Core Curriculum through a question and answer format, as well as by use of case studies. Rationales are included, making it a rich learning tool. It is a creative resource for enhancing nurses’ practice of hospice and palliative nursing. In addition, the Study Guide can be used as one source of preparation for the specialty certification exam.


Certification for Hospice and Palliative Registered Nurses. Specialty certification for RNs is available through HPNA’s sister organization, the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN®). Certification is highly valued and provides recognition of a foundational expertise in hospice and palliative nursing.

Prior to sitting for the exam, it is recommended that the RN have two years of practice in hospice and palliative nursing in any setting. Upon receiving a passing score, the nurse is certified to use the credentials CHPN (Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse) for four years.

There is a fee for the exam, which is administered two times per year. The next exam is scheduled for September 18, 2004. Candidate Handbooks can be obtained on the NBCHPN® website or by calling Applied Measurement Professionals at (888) 519-9901. The Candidate Handbook contains specific information about the exam including testing sites, detailed content outline, sample questions, and suggested study references. Please note the application deadline is August 1, 2004. For more information, see the NBCHPN® website at www.nbchpn.org or follow the link from the HPNA homepage.


Certification for Hospice and Palliative Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses. LP/VNs make a strong contribution to EOL care, most commonly in long-term care. According to NBCHPN® there is a growing trend to bring the LP/VN into a broader spectrum of EOL settings. The NBCHPN® acknowledges the presence of the LP/VN in hospice and palliative care and is pleased to offer a new formal certifying process for this group of licensed nurses. The first hospice and palliative certification exam for LP/VNs will be held on September 18, 2004.

NBCHPN® recommends that candidates have at least 2 years of experience working as an LP/VN in hospice and palliative care in any setting before attempting the exam. Those who pass the exam will be certified and be awarded the credentials of CHPLN for four years.

Candidate Handbooks can be obtained on the NBCHPN® website or by calling Applied Measurement Professionals at (888) 519-9901. The Candidate Handbook contains specific information about the exam including testing sites, fees, detailed content outline, sample questions, and suggested study references. Tests will be administered biannually. The application deadline for the September exam is August 1, 2004.


Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. In addition to the resources above, HPNA has a peer-reviewed publication: The Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. It is published four times a year. The journal is included as a benefit to HPNA members and is also available by subscription. Each issue contains articles on a wide variety of topics; in addition, there are continuing education opportunities quarterly. Titles of articles in the most recent journal include “The Living End: Life Journeys of Hospice Nurses,” “Good Palliative Care: How and Where? The Patients’ Opinions,” “Ethics in End-of-Life Care,” and “The Continuing Challenge of Assisted Death.” In addition, two position papers are provided: Pain, and The Value of the Professional Nurse in End-of-Life Care.


We would like to thank Dena Jean Sutermaster, MSN, RN, for her contributions to this month’s Tip. Ms. Sutermaster is Director of Education for the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.


References
  1. HPNA. Value of the professional nurse in end-of-life care (position paper). J Hospice and Palliative Nursing. 2004;6(1):65-66.