High School
If you are interested in becoming a nurse, you should take mathematics and science courses, including biology, chemistry, and physics. Health courses will also be helpful. English and speech courses will help you develop basic communication skills that you will use with patients and coworkers. Psychology and sociology classes are also recommended.
Postsecondary Training
Many home health care and hospice nurses are required to have some nursing experience, preferably in acute care, because they are required to work with patients with a wide range of health problems. Entry-level requirements depend on the home health care agency, the hospice organization, and the availability of nurses in that specialty and geographical region. Education may follow various routes, including a bachelor of science in nursing; an associate's degree in nursing; or a diploma from a nursing program. Nurses who wish to specialize in hospice or home health care may choose to attend graduate school. The University of Maryland offers a master of science in palliative care. Visit https://graduate.umaryland.edu/palliative for more information.
Certification
Some colleges and universities—such as Madonna University, the University of South Florida, University of Maryland, and Drexel University—offer certificate programs in hospice and palliative studies, adult advanced practice hospice and palliative care nursing, clinical aging sciences, and related fields. Classes in Madonna University's graduate certificate in hospice and palliative care studies program include History, Philosophy, & Practice of HSP & Palliative Care; Trauma, Loss and Grief: Helping Families Heal; Spiritual & Ethical Considerations in Palliative/End-of-Life Care; and Advanced Holistic Palliative Care. Contact schools in your area for information about available programs.
Other Education or Training
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), and other professional associations provide continuing education classes, workshops, webinars, and seminars. For example, the HPNA offers learning modules such as Palliative Care RN Basics, Palliative Care Pain Management Basics, and Palliative Care Leadership Basics. Contact these organizations for more information.
- Addiction Therapists
- Adult Day Care Coordinators
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Career and Employment Counselors
- Career and Employment Technicians
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Clinic Managers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Community Health Workers
- Community Nutrition Educators
- Conflict Resolution Specialists
- Contact Tracers
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Directors of Volunteers
- Dispensing Opticians
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Elder Law Attorneys
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Geriatric Care Managers
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- HIV/AIDS Counselors and Case Managers
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Human Services Workers
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Kinesiologists
- Legal Nurse Consultants
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Ethicists
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Music Therapists
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Nursing Instructors
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Personal Care Aides
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- School Nurses
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Sign Language and Oral Interpreters
- Social Workers
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Tutors and Trainers
- Urologists