Hospice and Palliative Nursing Certification The Journey to Defining a New Nursing Specialty

Hospice and palliative nursing certification was initially established in the 1990s for registered nurses to distinguish hospice practice as a nursing specialty. Since that time, the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses has led the way in developing national accredited certifications for the hospice and palliative nursing team, including nursing assistants, licensed practical/vocational nurses, advanced practice nurses, administrators, and pediatric palliative nurses. This evolution has validated a new nursing specialty, defining standards and continued competence in palliative and end-stage patient care, across all levels of nursing practice.