What degree do you need to be a hospice nurse?

Once you earn your degree, you need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed registered nurse. After meeting the educational requirements and obtaining your RN license, you need to gain experience. Typically you need two to three years of experience working in an acute care setting if you want to be a hospice nurse.

Once you have gained the necessary experience, you need to pursue certification from the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses. There are different certifications that a registered nurse can apply for, but the most common one for a hospice nurse is the Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse certification.