Employers

Hospice organizations hire hospice workers and also welcome hospice volunteers. In 2017, there wre approximately 4,515 Medicare certified hospice programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Starting Out

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a hospice worker, you should consider volunteering at a hospice center, hospital, or nursing home when in high school. This will give you an insight into the hospice environment and its career possibilities.

If you choose to complete professional training, a career services office associated with your degree program may help you locate employment opportunities. In addition, contacts you made in clinical settings while training or volunteering may be helpful. Applying directly to hospices and other health care agencies and answering ads in professional journals can also produce employment opportunities.

Advancement opportunities include director and supervisor positions within the hospice program. Other career opportunities may exist with government agencies and organizations associated with hospice and home health care programs. Additional education may be required to advance to some positions.

Volunteer to work in a hospital, visiting nurse service, or hospice program to experience the environment and interact with patients.

Explore the hospice and palliative care field online by reading professional journals. Blogs written by hospice patients and doctors will also provide an interesting perspective on the subject.

Work with your career services office to find a job in the hospice field with a hospital or a home health care agency.

Visit http://aahpm.org/career/job-mart for job listings.