The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association is celebrating 40 years in 2026! This historic moment calls for a nostalgic walk down memory lane for HPNA members. This page highlights some of HPNA’s proud moments, accomplishments, and milestones throughout 40 years of supporting hospice and palliative care nurses in the profession.
HPNA’s History
Timeline of Achievements
1986
- Hospice Nurses Association (HNA) is founded.
1987
- HNA is incorporated.
- HNA produces its first newsletter.
1988
- HNA hosts its first national education conference.
1991
- American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) is incorporated.
- HNA and NHO (now NHPCO) conduct a survey on certification.
1993
- National Board for Certification of Hospice Nurses (NBCHN) is founded.
- HNA hires first part-time executive director, Madalon Amenta.
- HNA produces its first position statement: DNR Status in Hospice.
1994
- NBCHN offers first hospice and palliative certification for nurses, Certified Registered Nurse in Hospice (CRNH®).
- HNA develops hospice nurse standards.
- HNA produces certification review manual.
1995
- NBCHN bestows first Certified Nurse of the Year award.
1996
- HNA develops a webpage.
1997
- HNA changes name to Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA).
1998
- HPNA develops the hpna.org website.
- Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) is founded.
1999
- NBCHN changes name to National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN).
- NBCHPN changes CRNH credential to Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN®).
- HPNA transitions newsletter to quarterly journal, Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing (JHPN).
- CEO Madalon Amenta retires and new CEO Marty Barber is hired.
2000
- HPNA launches monthly e-newsletter.
- Judy Lentz replaces Marty Barber as CEO.
2001
- National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care is founded.
2002
- NBCHPN launches Certified Hospice and Palliative Nursing Assistant certification (CHPNA®).
- NBCHPN acquires CHPN accreditation through Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC).
- NBCHPN offers Hospice and Palliative Alternative Recertification (HPAR) as an option for recertification.
- HPNA establishes APN SIG.
- HPNA initiates teleconferences.
2003
- The Alliance for Nursing Excellence in Hospice and Palliative Care is founded as the combined voice of HPNA, HPNF, and NBCHPN.
- NBCHPN, in a joint venture with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), launches Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Board-Certified Palliative Care Manager certification (APRN, BC-PCM®).
- HPNA initiates chapters.
- HPNA launches patient/family teaching sheets.
2004
- NBCHPN launches Certified Hospice and Palliative Licensed Nurse certification (CHPLN®).
- The National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care releases first edition of Clinical Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care.
- The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and HPNA host the first Annual Assembly.
- HPNF creates new giving designation: Florence Wald Fellows (later renamed Florence Wald Champions).
- HPNF offers inaugural grants, scholarships, and leadership and achievement awards.
2005
- HPNA expands JHPN to six issues per year.
- NBCHPN acquires APRN, BC-PCM® certification from ANCC. Credential is changed to Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN®).
- NBCHPN acquires CHPNA® accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
- HPNF launches inaugural certification scholarships.
2006
- First self-assessment exam/practice exam is offered.
- HPNA inaugural New Investigator Research Award.
2007
- HPNA hosts first Clinical Practice Forum.
- NBCHPN acquires ACHPN® accreditation from ABSNC.
- NBCHPN acquires CHPLN® accreditation through NCCA.
2008
- NBCHPN launches Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator certification (CHPCA®).
- NBCHPN begins computer-based testing for all exam programs.
- NBCHPN offers first recertification for ACHPN® through HPAR. Exam for recertification is no longer offered.
2009
- HPNA establishes Fellow in Palliative Care Nursing designation.
- HPNA initiates online webinars.
- HPNA adds Journal of Palliative Medicine as a second journal.
- HPNA first participates in the Kathleen Foley Research Retreat.
2010
- NPCHPN adds Situational Judgment Exercise (SJE) as a requirement for the ACHPN® HPAR.
2011
- NBCHPN launches Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse certification (CHPPN®).
- NBCHPN offers HPAR for the CHPLN® and CHPCA® programs.
- NBCHPN changes acronym of HPAR to Hospice and Palliative Accrual for Recertification.
- NBCHPN releases white paper on continuing competence.
2012
- HPNA participates in first congressional briefing.
- CEO Judy Lentz retires and new CEO Sally Welsh is hired.
2013
- NBCHPN launches Certified in Perinatal Loss Care certification (CPLC®).
- Mission statements for all organizations are revised.
- The Alliance for Nursing Excellence in Hospice and Palliative Care is dissolved.
2014
- NBCHPN changes name to the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC).
- HPCC adds Situational Judgment Exercise (SJE) as a requirement for the CHPN® HPAR.
2015
- HPCC launches LearningBuilder as the online platform for the ACHPN® and CHPN® recertification process.
- HPNA and HPCC launch the Employer Partner Program.
- HPNF launches the Advancing Expert Care Campaign to engage funders in supporting the mission of HPNA, HPCC, and HPNF.
2017
- HPCC retires CHPLN® and CHPCA® examinations on December 31, 2017.
2018
- HPCC Board creates value propositions for individuals and employers.
- HPNA launches HPNA University.
2019
- CEO Sally Welsh retires and new CEO Virginia (Ginger) Marshall is hired.
- HPNA launches Podcast Corner.
- HPCC changes to electronic application renewal submissions for CHPPN®, CHPLN®, CHPNA®, CHPCA®, and CPLC® through LearningBuilder; paper application process to dissolve in 2020.
2020
- HPCC relaunches CHPLN® examination.
- HPNA launches POLARIS.
- HPNA hosts its first virtual ELNEC conference.
- HPNA hosts its first virtual Clinical Practice Forum (CPF) conference.
- HPNA relocates the national office.
2021
- HPNA held its first virtual Annual Assembly in conjunction with AAHPM.
- Organization implemented automatic upload of NCPD credits to HPAR platform.
- HPNF launched electronic platform for scholarship and award submissions.
2022
- HPNF launched a new donor database.
- HPCC began offering Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) for examinations.
- The first Team Conference for Hospice and Palliative Care was held and hosted by HPNA and SWHPN.
- HPCC instituted the reTEST Assured Program.
2023
- HPNA launched a new website.
- HPNA launched APRN POLARIS.
- HPCC acquired the APHSW-C credentialing program and offered its first exam.
- HPNF celebrated its 25th anniversary.
2024
- HPNA transitions incorporation from CA to PA.
- HPNA implements a new LMS system.
- HPCC’s exam application migrated to a upgraded platform.
2025
- HPNA Palliative Care Basics series received the Silver Award for Excellence in the Best Association Professional Development Program category from the Brandon Hall Group.
- Received record breaking attendance achieved for the HPNA Conference in Orlando, FL.
- The HPNF Corporate Engagement Council debuted.
- HPCC Retired Certification designation available for all HPCC certifications.