Why I Became a Certified Hospice and Palliative ICU Nurse

by Lori RuderMarch 19 is Certified Nurses Day, a day set aside to honor nurses who improve patient outcomes through certification in their specialty. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) states: “A registered nurse (RN) license allows nurses to practice. Certification affirms advanced knowledge, skill, and practice to meet the challenges of modern nursing.”As an ICU nurse, I see the challenges of modern nursing as witnessing sicker patients undergoing extreme measures; attempting to extend the length of life but not necessarily the quality of life. ICU nurses have 24/7 intimate contact with their patients. More times than not, I have a direct hand in implementing these extreme, often painful measures, leading to moral distress.While most ICU nurses choose a Critical Care Registered Nurse certification (CCRN), I chose a certification with a primary aim to improve the quality of life for my patients and families:the Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN). Palliative care focuses on holistic care of patients and their families, including management of physical, psychosocial and spiritual symptoms, as well as communication about patient and family concerns and how treatment aligns with each patient ' s values and preferences. ICU patients have serious and life-threatening illnesses requiring advanced care. These serious illnesses and the intensive care they require can cause critically ill patients to suffer from a variety of distressing symptoms including p...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Care Tags: credentialing icu nurse nursing ruder The profession Source Type: blogs