Hospice & Palliative Care Nurses: Caring for Patients and Families Through Serious Illness
Hospice and palliative care nurses provide comfort, dignity, and support to patients and families facing serious illness. Through expert symptom management and compassionate communication, they help ensure care aligns with what matters most. Caring for patients and those who love them every step of the way
What Is the Difference?
Palliative Care
- Focuses on relief from symptoms and stress of serious illness
- Can be provided at any stage of illness
- Delivered alongside curative or life-prolonging treatment
Hospice Care
- Focuses on comfort care at the end of life
- Typically for patients with a life expectancy of 6 months or less
- Prioritizes quality of life over curative treatment
Hospice & Palliative Care by the Numbers
- 6 Million+
People receive palliative care annually in the U.S. - 1.7 Million+
Patients receive hospice care each year - 90%+ of hospitals
Have palliative care programs - Growing demand
Driven by aging population and chronic illness
What Hospice & Palliative Care Nurses Do:
• Manage pain and complex symptoms (pain, dyspnea, nausea, fatigue)
• Provide goals-of-care discussions and advance care planning
• Support patients and families with decision-making and transitions
• Deliver emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial support
• Coordinate care across interdisciplinary teams
The Impact on Patients and Families
• Improves quality of life during serious illness
• Helps patients receive care aligned with their values and preferences
• Reduces unnecessary hospitalizations and interventions
• Supports families and caregivers during and after illness
• Provides continuity and presence during difficult moments
The Nurse’s Role: More Than Clinical Care
Hospice and palliative care nurses are often:
• Advocates for patient-centered care
• Communicators facilitating difficult conversations
• Educators helping families understand what to expect
• Care coordinators across complex healthcare systems
• A consistent, trusted presence for patients and families
Where They Practice
• Hospitals
• Outpatient palliative care clinics
• Hospice organizations
• Long-term care facilities
• Patients’ homes
Hospice and palliative care nurses play a vital role in ensuring patients receive compassionate, individualized care that prioritizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is recognized each November.
Sources:
- National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
- Center to Advance Palliative Care
