Hospice Nurse Resume Writing Tips and Sample

Want to make your hospice nurse resume truly shine? To set yourself apart as a hospice nurse, highlight not only your clinical expertise but also the soft skills essential for this emotionally demanding role — empathy, active listening, therapeutic communication, and in-depth knowledge of the principles of culturally congruent care.

But how do you capture all these skills on paper? This article walks you step by step through crafting a standout resume that highlights your strengths and increases your chances of landing that all-important hospice nursing interview. Pair your CV with a persuasive hospice nurse cover letter for success.

3 Tips to Write a Great Hospice Nurse Resume

Anyone can list job duties — but employers want to see results of your work. These resume tips are designed specifically for hospice nurses who want to showcase how their clinical expertise, customer service skills, and caring mindset makes a difference in the end-of-life care environment.

1. Create a Strong Hospice Nurse Resume Objective

Did you know that hiring managers often spend two minutes or less scanning each resume before deciding whether to read further? That’s why a strong resume objective matters. This short statement at the top of your resume highlights who you are and what you offer. When written well, it captures the attention of hiring managers, encouraging them to keep reading.

How do you create a compelling objective for your nursing resume? Check out the following examples:

• Experienced: CHPN-certified hospice nurse with 5 years of specialty experience, 3 years of ER and 6 years of military nursing background, seeking to bring clinical excellence and compassionate end-of-life support to a new community following relocation.
• Career changer: Empathetic RN with 2 years med-surg experience and a theology background, pursuing a hospice role at a faith-based clinic to deliver holistic end-of-life care.

2. Use Quantifiable Outcomes to Show Impact

Include numerical information whenever you can. It gives employers a concrete idea of your years of experience, the patient load you can successfully manage, and other tangible impacts of your skills.

Here are some examples of quantifiable achievements for hospice nurses:

• Improved patient comfort scores by 25% through personalized pain management strategies.
• Referred over 50 families each year to grief-support nonprofits.
• Decreased UTI-related hospital transfers by 15% by standardizing incontinence care routines.

Tip: A well-organized resume gives clues about your personality — like how confident, organized, and detail-oriented you are — so make sure your document is clearly written and stylishly formatted.

3. Highlight a Unique Skill or Expertise

When applying for specialty nursing roles, you must go beyond showing you’re a competent nurse — you need to highlight what makes you an exceptional hospice care professional. What do you do or know that sets you apart?

For example, hospice nurses often care for patients from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds, and understanding different beliefs, rituals, and practices around death and dying is essential. Demonstrating your ability to provide culturally congruent care shows that you can meet patients and families where they are, honoring their traditions while delivering expert clinical care. Any certifications or training you hold, such as Transcultural Nursing Certification (TNC), can serve as a cherry on top.

Hospice Nursing Resume Sample

Use the sample resume below as guidance for creating your own resume. Remember to avoid any temptation to copy and paste it — adding your own flair is what will make your resume impactful.

Maya Assefa, RN

Cherry Blossom, OH
firstlast@email.com (555) 555-5555

CHPN and TCN-certified nurse with 5 years of hospice care experience and prior background in oncology and med-surg nursing, looking to provide patient-centered end-of-life care at mission-driven hospice that values holistic, culturally congruent care.

Key Qualifications

• Experienced across hospice care, oncology, and med-surg care settings.
• Selected to mentor new hospice nurses and conduct onboarding training.
• Developed checklist protocols for patient assessments and symptom management.
• Studied and applied cultural perceptions of death and dying, delivering care that honors patients’ spiritual beliefs.
• Trained in CMS standards, state hospice guidelines, and quality measures to ensure regulatory compliance and high-quality care.

Education

Oak University, Dayton, OH, 20XX
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
GPA: 3.9/4.0

Professional Experience

Pine Manor, Hospice Nurse, 20XX–present

• Provided comprehensive end-of-life nursing care to patients in an inpatient hospice setting, focusing on comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
• Managed complex symptoms, including pain, dyspnea, anxiety, and nausea, using evidence-based palliative care interventions.
• Educated patients and families on disease progression, medication use, comfort measures, and what to expect during the dying process.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members — including physicians, social workers, chaplains, and aides — to deliver holistic, culturally congruent care.

Village Hospital, Oncology Nurse, 20XX–20XX

• Delivered specialized nursing care in a 30-bed inpatient oncology unit, managing patients undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and other treatments.
• Managed oncology-specific emergencies such as febrile neutropenia, spinal cord compression, and superior vena cava syndrome.
• Supported patients through disease progression and transitions in care, including referrals to hospice services.
• Documented assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately in the electronic health record to support continuity of care.

Village Hospital, Med-Surg Nurse, 20XX–20XX

• Provided comprehensive nursing care to adult patients with acute and chronic medical conditions in a fast-paced medical-surgical unit.
• Managed a diverse patient population with diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes, COPD, infections, and post-operative recovery.
• Administered IV and oral medications, including antibiotics, anticoagulants, and pain management therapies.
• Provided wound care, ostomy care, and post-operative monitoring in accordance with unit protocols.

Skills

• Comfort-focused pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions
• Emotional support and grief-informed communication
• Infection prevention and patient safety practices
• CMS hospice compliance and documentation standards
• Language comprehension: English and Spanish
• Software proficiency: Epic and Cerner

Certifications and Licenses

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)
• Transcultural Nursing Certification (TCN)

Professional Memberships

• American Nurses Association (ANA)
• Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA)
• Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF)

Hospice Nurse Salary

Hospice nurses typically earn about $87,000 annually, but pay can vary depending on education, experience, geographic location, and workplace type. Check out current openings for RN hospice jobs to see the latest salary ranges and benefits being offered in your area.

Some states are known for offering higher-than-average nursing salaries. Here are a few examples where your pay may exceed the national average:

• California
• Nevada
• Alaska
• Washington
• Hawaii

Care Providers Hiring Hospice Nurses

You can search for work in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice care centers across the country, such as:

• Affinity Hospice Management
• Bridge Home Health and Hospice
• Bristol Hospice
• Compassus
• Enhabit Home Health and Hospice
• Moments Hospice
• Phoenix Home Care and Hospice
• Serenity Hospice Care Pennsylvania
• Silverado
• St. Joseph’s Home Health
• Sutter Health

Ready to Use Your Hospice Nurse Resume?

Ready to get noticed by employers? Use these resume strategies and the sample as your guide, then explore our hospice job listing to find your next opportunity.