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The Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse Exam is to be available for the March 2011 testing window.
Certification for Hospice and Palliative
PEDIATRIC REGISTERED NURSES
The National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN®) is composed of advanced practice nurses, registered nurses (including a RN pediatric nurse), a licensed practical/vocational nurse, a nursing assistant, a nurse certified in another specialty, an administrator, and a non-nurse consumer member. Board members represent a wide variety of geographic areas, practice settings, and educational backgrounds. The NBCHPNÒ is responsible for the development and oversight of certification of professionals in the specialty of hospice and palliative care.
How is hospice and palliative nursing practice defined?
Hospice and palliative nursing practice is the provision of nursing care for the patient and family, with emphasis on their physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs when experiencing a life-limiting illness and through bereavement. This is accomplished in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team in any setting.
Who is eligible for certification?
To be eligible for the NBCHPN® hospice and palliative pediatric nurse examination, an applicant must hold a current, unrestricted registered nurse license in the United States, its territories, or the equivalent in Canada. Examination content is based on the competencies normally achieved through two years of practice in caring for children with life limiting illnesses and their families. Children are defined as perinatal, infant, pediatric, adolescent, or young adult patients. NBCHPN® recommends that candidates have at least 2 years of experience in hospice and palliative pediatric nursing practice to consider themselves eligible for certification as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN).
What credential is granted for certification? Candidates that sit for and pass the RN hospice and palliative pediatric nurse certification exam are granted the CHPPN credential (Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse).
Why seek certification?
Certification validates an individual nurse’s competence and knowledge in the specialized area of hospice and palliative care. Certification in nursing is highly valued and provides formal recognition of having achieved a standard of knowledge in the specialty.
What content is covered in the exam?
The exam consists of 150 items (questions) distributed across 9 domains of practice for the care of a pediatric patient and family as shown in the detailed content outline located on our website and the 2011 Candidate Handbook. The 2011 Candidate Handbook will be available in November 2010.
What is the cost of certification?
Persons applying for the certification exam who are current HPNA members PRIOR to applying for the examination are entitled to the HPNA member discounted exam fee as a membership benefit.
Click here for a list of certification fees
How often must I renew my certification?
Certification is valid for a four-year period. Renewal of certification can be accomplished by exam or by RN Hospice and Palliative Alternative Recertification (RN HPAR), a process that confers points for continuing education and other professional activities.
How do I apply?
The 2011 Candidate Handbook will be available in November 2010. The application period for the Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Registered Nurse exam will begin on December 1, 2010 for the March 2011 testing window. A candidate can apply for this certification exam online, through www.nbchpn.org or by mailing their application to the testing company, AMP. The certification examination for hospice and palliative pediatric nurses is offered at over 170 AMP test center locations.
More information on certification in hospice and palliative nursing can be obtained by contacting the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses by email at nbchpn@hpna.org or by phoning the National Office at 412-787-1057.
Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse Examination Flyer
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