Welcome to the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Assocation Blog!


Below you will find the latest news from the HPNA National Office!


Friday, April 9, 2010

To help celebrate the 2010 International Year of the Nurse, HPNA has a very unique opportunity for its members to commemorate the invaluable contributions of their nursing colleagues who have died. The National Office will collect their names and photos to launch the HPNA Photo Memorial Tribute to Nursing Colleagues. View Memorial

Thursday, April 8, 2010

2009 Annual Report is now available for your review. View report

New HPNA E-Learning Programs Just Announced!

These online programs allows for access to up-to-date, convenient, self-paced learning with real-time test grading and printing of your CE certificate. Continuing nursing education contact hours are awarded to the programs. Courses currently available:
  • Opioids in Palliative Care
  • Pain Management
  • Palliative Care Algorithms and Protocols for Symptom Management
  • Symptom Management: Heart Failure
  • Veteran Related Issues
  • Care For The Family Caregiver
  • The Ethics of AICD Deactivation
  • Pain Mangement in Advanced Illness and Co-Morbid Substance Use Disorder
  • Dying and Death in the Worlds of Children

HPNA E-Learning Site

Have You Viewed HPNA's Position Statements?

In HPNA's role as the lead organization in end-of-life and palliative nursing care, the Board of Directors will sometimes adopt a position statement on an issue of importance to the membership. Such statements can be written in support of or in opposition to a specific position. There is also the option of deciding not to take a position but rather to acknowledge both the pros and cons of the issue. A position statement is intended to represent the position of the Association's membership on the issue. Once adopted by the Board, the position becomes the official statement that Directors and National Office staff use when asked to comment on the issue.

The development of position statements is an on-going process within the Board of Directors.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Catch the "Live Chat" Replay

HPNA has posted a FREE replay of the "Happenings On The Hill" live chat event with HPNA Public Policy Committee Chair, Rhonda Oakes. The program, orginally held on Thursday, March 25 at 3:00PM EST, will be available for the entire month of April and features answers your questions regarding current legislation affecting nursing, HPNA public policy programs, and other “happenings on the hill

Live Chat Replay Link

Be sure to watch for more FREE upcoming live chats!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

HPNA Presents Award to Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA)


HPNA has announced that Congresswomen Lois Capps, US Representative of California’s 23rd District, is the 2010 recipient of the Friend of HPNA Award. This prestigious award recognizes an individual who supports the HPNA Mission through a demonstrated positive impact on the hospice and palliative nursing care field through public policy and/or advocacy. The honor was presented March 5th at the AAHPM/HPNA Annual Assembly in Boston, MA.

Registration in now open for the 2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum

Registration in now open for the 2010 HPNA Clinical Practice Forum - Breathing Easier: Palliative Care and Advanced Pulmonary Disease

September 17 & 18, 2010

Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Hilton
Bloomington (Minneapolis area), MN

The 2010 CPF Brochure(pdf)and registration information can be found on the HPNA website! CPF Event Information

Pulmonary disease is one of the top 4 leading causes of death in America. Life-limiting illnesses, such as advanced pulmonary disease present their own unique challenges for patients living with and dying from advanced pulmonary disease. The purpose of this conference is to demonstrate the integration of palliative care and pulmonary nursing practices for end-of-life care management. This conference is designed for practicing palliative care, pulmonary care, and other professional nurses who care for patients who have been diagnosed with pulmonary disease and their families.

The forum will include interactive sessions to address: assessment and management strategies to adequately control symptoms; what does the data show and what doesn’t the evidence show for pulmonary disease management; misconceptions about opioids and respiratory depression; management of dyspnea especially when, due to its subjectivity, the patient's intensity report may not correlate with pulmonary dysfunction; the psychological aspects of care for the patient and the family; and ethics at end-of-life.