View our EdD Early Childhood specialization completion requirements
Minimum degree requirements:
60 quarter credits
- Core courses (50 cr.)
- Capstone (10 cr.)
BUILD IN-DEMAND EXPERTISE
A certificate in palliative care from Walden can help prepare you to meet the growing need for specialized palliative care providers. Gain the skills to support patients across settings—hospital, home, or community—especially as chronic illness and aging populations increase.
EXPAND YOUR NURSING SKILL SET
Build skills in communication, symptom management, and emotional support to help you navigate care with greater compassion.
IMPROVE PATIENT WELL-BEING
Explore palliative care principles that emphasize comfort, dignity, and quality of life considerations in patient care.
UPSKILL IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE
If you already work in hospice or palliative care, this certificate can help broaden your knowledge and strengthen the care you provide.
Program Details
Promote Compassionate Care
Gain the skills to deliver supportive care that improves quality of life for patients facing complex health challenges.
Curriculum and Completion Requirements
Walden’s online palliative care courses are aligned with the National Consensus Project’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care (4th ed.), covering eight essential domains of practice.
Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing – Palliative Care
Introduction to Palliative Care: Principles of Hospice and Palliative Care
This course introduces Advanced Practice Registered Nurse's (APRN) and Registered Nurse (RN) to core concepts needed to accurately assess individuals suffering from serious illness. It covers complex disease processes and treatment modalities available at various stages of illness and is also designed to introduce proper communication skills needed to adequately discuss goals of care and advance care planning options. It also helps nursing professionals develop proper communication skills needed to adequately discuss goals of care and advance care planning options with patients, helping them effectively participate in difficult discussions with patients with serious illness while considering ethical implications. Self-care strategies and practices will also be evaluated and encouraged to support and foster clinician wellbeing.
Symptom Management for the Hospice and Palliative Care Clinician
This course aims to enhance the skills of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and registered nurses (RNs) in identifying and managing distressing symptoms associated with serious illnesses. Key topics will include pain, delirium, dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, and anxiety and depression, which are commonly experienced by patients.
Participants will learn evidence-based strategies for both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, as well as effective education and advocacy approaches for optimal symptom management. The course will also explore the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in managing symptoms and provide tools for accurately assessing symptom severity, including considerations for end-of-life care.
Advanced Palliative Concepts and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
This course is designed to equip advanced practice registered nurse’s (APRN) and registered nurses (RN) with advanced communication skills essential for effectively discussing goals of care and advance care planning options. Comprehensive education will be provided regarding concepts related to prognostication and management in serious illness. It will address the critical aspects of goals of care discussions and the evaluation of advance care planning documents, providing evidence-based support for the development and implementation of effective communication strategies. Special emphasis will be placed on the preparation and execution of family meetings, ensuring that effective communication strategies are thoroughly integrated throughout all stages of patient and family interactions concerning goals of care. Ethical considerations will also be addressed in this course. This course will also provide nursing professionals with an in-depth understanding of the interdisciplinary methodologies employed in palliative care and offer a comprehensive overview of the multidisciplinary approach and detail the essential assessments and elements required to deliver holistic specialist level palliative care to both patients and families.
Admissions
Chat with an Enrollment Specialist who’ll guide you through every step—from finding the right program to paying for your education.
Streamlined Admissions Process
Earning your post-master’s certificate in palliative care online at Walden signifies a major step in your professional journey. Our simple admissions process includes:
No application fee
Easy credit transfer
No test scores or essay required
Requirements
To be considered for this palliative care nursing certificate program, you must have a current, active RN license and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or equivalent degree from an accredited school. All applicants must submit a completed online application and transcripts. Depending on program specialization, additional requirements may apply. More information for international applicants.
Tuition Savings
We are here to support you along your journey. Request information to learn more about tuition savings opportunities.
Tuition Breakdown
We know that cost matters when you’re exploring palliative care nursing certificate programs. To help make your goals more attainable, Walden offers several opportunities to reduce your tuition:
Partner tuition savings
Program Savings
Receive up to a 10% discount when you start an eligible post master's certificate program.
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition-Coursework | 15 total quarter credit hours | $505 per quarter hour | $7,575 |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $185 | $370 |
$7,945† |
†The tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 855-341-0248. Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $500 to $700.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Career Outlook
As people live longer and chronic diseases become more common, serious health related suffering is projected to increase substantially by 2060, according to research published in The Lancet Global Health.² Walden’s post master’s certificate in palliative care is designed to provide registered nurses with advanced academic instruction in palliative care principles, supporting continued professional learning in an area of growing relevance to healthcare systems.
Career Opportunities
Earning a palliative care nursing certificate can empower you to elevate the standards of patient care.
OVERSEE CARE DELIVERY
REGISTERED NURSE
RNs who focus on palliative care provide specialized care to improve quality of life for patients with chronic or terminal illnesses, including symptom management and support for family members.
Expected growth: 5%
Estimated annual wage: $53,410–$116,230
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Job outlook | Estimated wage (as of May 2020)
Bureau of Labor Statistics (as of May 2024). Percentile wage estimates are based on the 10th–75th percentiles. The 10th percentile figure reasonably represents entry-level wages. BLS wages are national estimates and are not specific to graduates of Walden University. Wages may vary by state or region. No guarantee is made that a person who enrolls at Walden will obtain a job or earn the estimated salaries.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completing this post-master’s palliative care certificate program, you will be academically prepared to:
Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.
Meet Your Academic Team
Learn about the accomplished nursing faculty at Walden who are committed to supporting your growth and success.
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Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing – Palliative Care FAQ
What are the requirements for Walden’s Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing – Palliative Care?
To apply to this palliative care nursing certificate program, you must have a current, active registered nurse (RN) license and a Master of Science in Nursing (or an equivalent degree) from an accredited school. You’ll also need to complete Walden’s no-fee online application and submit your transcripts.
How much does this palliative care nursing certificate cost?
Tuition and fees for Walden’s Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing Palliative Care total $7,945*. We offer several ways to manage the cost of your certificate, including:
- Partner tuition savings
Receive up to a 10% discount when you start an eligible post master's certificate program. Call 1-866-492-5336 and talk to an Enrollment Specialist to learn more about ways to save on your program.
What is the difference between hospice care and palliative care?
Palliative care and hospice care both focus on improving quality of life and relieving symptoms for people with serious illness, but they have key differences:
- Palliative care is a broad term that encompasses supportive treatment provided at any stage of a serious illness. It can be given alongside treatments meant to cure or control the disease.
- Hospice care is a subset of palliative care for people who are nearing the end of life. It usually begins when a doctor believes a person may have about six months or less to live and focuses on comfort rather than curing the illness.
While all hospice care incorporates palliative principles (e.g., focusing on comfort and quality of life), not all palliative care is hospice. Walden's palliative care certificate program integrates components of both, equipping you to support patients from diagnosis through end-of-life care.