Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse – ACHPN (HPCC)
By Raising Careers Staff | Updated: May 2019
OVERVIEW
Certification Description
The Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN) certification certifies that an individual has the experience and advanced knowledge to provide care for terminally ill patients. Nurses with this certification can work in hospice centers, nursing facilities, hospitals and in a patient’s home. A nurse with the ACHPN certification will also be able to prescribe medication and monitor the patient’s overall status.
Skills Focus
The certification focuses on the following areas:
- Understanding of age-appropriate treatments and principles
- Knowledge of Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance benefits
- Understanding of various interventions
- Competency working with common psychosocial, emotional and spiritual patient concerns
- Knowledge of evidence-based palliative management for the body systems
- Understanding of disease processes
- Familiarity advocating for access to palliative, hospice and/or other types of treatment and care
Exam Objectives
Exam Details
- Issuing Organization: Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC)
- Prerequisites: Applicant must be a current RN; Applicant must hold a master’s, postgraduate or doctoral degree from an advanced practice nursing program that has both didactic and clinical components; applicant is a Clinical Nurse Specialist or a Nurse Practitioner with 500+ hours in hospice and/or palliative advanced care over the last year or 1,000+ hours in the last 2 years; applicant must submit a copy of work and educational records
- Questions: 175 (150 scored)
- Time: 210 minutes
- Cost: $345 for HPNA members; $465 for non-members
- Re-certification and certification renewal: Every 4 years
- Exam Outline
Other relevant details: Exam is given at PSI testing centers
ACHPN (HPCC) Careers
Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse Careers
Jobs you can get with an ACHPPN (HPCC) certification (additional requirements may apply):
- Nurse Practitioner (NP)
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse
Salary (Base Level)
A specialty certification may not only increase your employability, but may increase your earnings potential as well. Keep in mind that your actual salary can vary substantially depending on region, job description and employer expectations. Reference salary for the Nurse Practitioner (NP) shown. Salary based on 2019 data.
National average per year: $113,930*
National average per hour: $54.78*
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
ACHPN (HPCC) Training
Exam Preparation
- Study from the key topics on the exam objectives
- Consider taking an eLearning course for review
- Study guides
- Take practice tests
Important: This is not a complete list of all certification training and learning options available. Remember to thoroughly research and choose study materials that fit your learning style and needs. This step is crucial to help you succeed in your certification exam.
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