Hospice Southeastern Connecticut Nurses Receive Certification

June 4, 2009 - Four Hospice Southeastern Connecticut nurses recently passed a rigorous exam to become certified or recertified by the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses (NBCHPN).  Cele Frank, Charlotte Quigley, Paula Ranelli and Maureen Sullivan each showed competency in their field with tests measuring the knowledge of registered nurses working in end-of-life care.

The NBCHPN is a national organization that advances quality in the provision of care to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses through certification of health professionals. Certification is sought and earned by nurses on a voluntary basis, and is widely recognized by health care systems, insurers and patients as an essential tool to judge that a nurse has the knowledge, experience and skills for providing quality hospice and palliative care.

“We are extremely proud of all of our nursing staff, most especially these four nurses who have proven their commitment to maintaining the highest professional level of hospice and palliative care when working with the terminally ill and their families,” said Carol L. Mahier, Executive Director of Hospice Southeastern Connecticut.

Hospice Southeastern Connecticut was established in 1985 with the mission to help patients facing terminal illness live as fully, informed and educated as possible.  Since then, the program has cared for over 6,500 patients.  As experts in pain and symptom control, hospice nurses work closely with the primary physician and medical director to keep patients comfortable. Equally important, the interdisciplinary group nurtures and supports the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families.  Hospice Southeastern Connecticut provides bereavement support without cost to the entire community as well as to patients’ families.

Hospice Southeastern Connecticut is an affiliate of The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich and the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, Connecticut.  The program is certified by Medicare, and is licensed by the State of Connecticut and Department of Health Services as a hospice home health agency.  Hospice Southeastern Connecticut is also accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), the leading accrediting agency for homecare agencies.

Photo Caption:  left – right: Maureen Sullivan, RN, CHPN - Charlotte Quigley, RN, CHPN - Paula Ranelli, MSN, CHPN - Cele Frank, RN, CHPN