The School of Nursing Post-Master’s Certificate program in palliative care prepares nurses to transform our health care system so that it is more responsive to the needs of older adults with chronic illness and their families. These individuals are not well-served by our health care system, which is designed for episodal, rather than supportive, care for individuals who will live many years with their disease(s). The Palliative Care program will train nurses to become specialists and leaders in disease modifying care, pain and symptom management, attention to highest quality of life possible, and compassionate end-of-life care.

The program can be completed in just three semesters. The versatile distance-based format allows professional nurses to advance their education while working full-time, but also provides students with a rigorous curriculum and access to the resources and experts at GW. Simultaneous clinical experiences during the third and fourth courses will provide some, or all of the clinical experience required to be eligible for taking the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurse’s credentialing exam as a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner.

Specialty in Palliative and End-of-Life Care

The Specialty in Palliative and End-of-Life Care is a scholarly option to prepare nurses or other health care professionals with a didactic background in palliative care. Upon completion of 11 credits of online core courses and an elective course, students will receive a document designating a Specialty in Palliative and End-of-Life Care.