HPNA INAUGURAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING TASK FORCE

Committed to improving diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), the Board of Directors approved the development of a DEIB Task Force in 2021. The task force's primary objective was to help create a positive culture of inclusiveness with a long-term goal of enhancing the recruitment and retention of diverse members to HPNA's board, staff, and membership. Initiated in September 2021, the task force consisted of 14 HPNA members, including two co-chairs, dedicated to the development of an organizational culture aligned with DEIB. The task force began work outlined by a detailed charter from the Board of Directors with support from the HPNA national office, including the HPNA chief executive officer; the HPNA senior vice president of education, membership, and marketing; the HPNA director of operations; and the HPNA membership specialist.

Fostering an organizational culture of inclusion and belonging is no small feat and requires courage, humility, and willingness to have uncomfortable conversations. Major events in recent years have led to a collective awareness of the profound impact that systemic and structural racism, bias, and discrimination have on the inequity that pervasively frays the societal fabric. Embarking on work to improve understanding of these forces and how they impact members, patients, and families was inherently difficult. The work of the task force was no exception. The task force members needed to reach a level of comfort and collective growth that could only occur once trust was established and the members were willing to be vulnerable. United by a commitment to the value of the DEIB work, members were able to create a safe forum for collegial exchange.

After establishing this level of cultural safety, task force members identified the need for a universal resource to ensure consistent communication, which facilitated the creation and adoption of the HPNA DEIB Style Guide. The style guide provides current guidance on widely accepted terminology used to describe and include minoritized and often misrepresented groups. Subsequently, after adopting "cultural safety" as a guiding principle, the task force formed two subcommittees to organize and complete the work designated by the charter. One subcommittee conducted an intensive review of all materials created by and used by HPNA, including the website, social media, and nursing resource guides. Another conducted a review of educational, corporate, and nursing websites for DEIB content to identify exemplars for how DEIB content can be presented and shared by HPNA. The task force collaboratively developed an initial prototype for the HPNA DEIB webpage, which launched in March 2023.

In early 2023, the task force transitioned to a standing committee. One of the committee's roles will be to collaboratively work with other HPNA committees and the HPNA Education Department to ensure that HPNA educational products, scholarships, and services meet the new standards adopted by HPNA. The committee will maintain an internal environment founded on trust and collective vulnerability to achieve these goals. The work is in its early stages, but the long-term goal is that HPNA will continue to grow and strengthen DEIB initiatives to create a culturally safe community for all.

Committee and Task Force Members:

Komal Patel Murali, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC (committee chair)

Masako Mayahara, PhD, RN, CHPN, FPCN (task force co-chair)

Lolita Melhado, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, ACHPN (task force co-chair)

Ella Cullen, RN, CCM

Nancy Dias, PhD, RN

Katherine Doyon, PhD, MED, RN, CHPN

Mansara Hassan, MSN, APRN, AGNP-C

Todd Hultman, PhD, ACNP, ACHPN

Mary Isaacson, PhD, RN, CHPN, FPCN

William E. Rosa, PhD, MBE, FAANP, FAAN, FPCN

Matthew Selle, MS, BSN, RN, CHPN, OCN

Tacy Silverberg-Urian, RN, BSN, CHPN

Christy Torkildson, PhD, RN, PHN, FPCN, HEC-C

CONGRATULATIONS TO PATIENCE MBOZI, RECIPIENT OF THE HPNA JUDY LENTZ SCHOLARSHIP FOR ADVANCEMENT OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN ONCOLOGY NURSING

Each year, the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) Judy Lentz Scholarship for the Advancement of Palliative Care in Oncology Nursing provides a registered nurse who is a member of the Oncology Nursing Society with a 1-year membership to the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), as well as conference registration for the Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care. The 2023 winner is Patience Mbozi from Zambia, Africa.

"I am so very impressed by the extensive education and obvious dedication of Patience Mbozi. As a dedicated yet humble nurse, she has undertaken numerous educational opportunities to expand her knowledge and experience as she serves the people of Zambia, Africa. It is with great pride that I offer my congratulations to this well-deserved nursing colleague," said Judy Lentz.

Mbozi is a senior lecturer in the nursing department at Chreso University and served as the lead palliative care nurse at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Zambia. She received a diploma of higher education palliative care at Nairobi Hospice with Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom; a BSc in palliative care at the Institute for Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa in affiliation with Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda; and her master's degree in palliative care nursing at Oxford Brookes University.

Mbozi has worked in both adult and children's palliative care and was identified as a key person in the ongoing development of palliative care in Zambia through the Integrate project run by the University of Edinburgh, the African Palliative Care Association, and colleagues. HPNF is honored to recognize Mbozi.

We recently had a chance to learn more about her when she joined us in a virtual meeting.

What led you to a career in palliative care nursing?

"Working at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Zambia was quite challenging, as I was always faced with patients with so much pain, not only physical pain but also holistic/total pain. I wanted to be able to meet their needs and provide some solutions to these patients. I also wanted to be able to share the palliative care knowledge with other health care staff members working with patients with incurable and life-threatening illness, hence the reason I decided to pursue the palliative care career to MSc level."

What is most rewarding about your job?

"Seeing my patients peaceful after a series of encounters with them after offering palliative care services is so satisfying. What I mean is, seeing my patients totally pain free is so rewarding. The other aspect is that when I was able to carry the patients' families along through a series of family conferences, families were then able to respond well to the patients' illnesses, and they became active members of not only that palliative care team but also the health care team."

Anything else you'd like to share about winning the Judy Lentz Scholarship?

"Receiving this scholarship has humbled me. The HPNA membership provided by this scholarship has enabled me to meet people with similar interest in palliative care as me, which is a wonderful experience. I also have seen quite a number of educational, research, and conference opportunities that I would like to be part of as I continue the HPNA membership. The virtual conference provided by the scholarship enabled me to learn a lot through the keynote sessions, posters, and on-demand recorded sessions and also meet new inspirational people virtually."

For more information on HPNF awards and scholarships, visit http://www.advancingexpertcare.org/hpnf/ or email mailto:[email protected].

THE HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CREDENTIALING CENTER CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

In 2023, the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since its inception in 1993, HPCC has been responsive to the interests and concerns of its certificants and the changing environment of hospice and palliative care.

In February 1993, the National Board for Certification of Hospice Nurses held its first meeting where the board defined hospice nursing practice, named the new credential, and determined examination content and eligibility criteria. In 1994, the National Board for Certification of Hospice Nurses offered the first Certified Registered Nurse Hospice examination.

Since its beginning, HPCC has undergone much growth and change. It has grown from 1 certification program to 6, with 2 retired programs. Along the way, HPCC sought accreditation for each of its programs. Currently, the Accreditation Board of Specialty Nursing Certification has accredited all 5 nursing certification programs.

In January 2023, the HPCC conducted Role Delineation Studies (RDS) for both the APHSW-C and CHPPN credentialing programs. A RDS is conducted when initially developing a certification program and then repeated approximately every 5 years to ensure that a certification examination is based on current practice. The RDS uses a survey method that verifies the major domains of practice and leads to the development of the detailed content outline (DCO) for the examination. The RDS committees review survey responses and, using decision rules, determine the DCO. All items for an examination are written respectively to the DCO.

Both the APHSW-C and CHPPN programs will have new DCOs, which will be released for 2024. The DCOs for each examination can be downloaded from each program's respective page on the HPCC website, https://www.advancingexpertcare.org/hpcc. Detailed content outlines can also be found within each candidate handbook.

In addition to the role delineation studies, both the APHSW-C and CHPPN programs will conduct passing point studies in the fall of 2023. During a passing point study, content experts evaluate each question on an examination to determine how many correct answers are necessary to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to pass the examination and earn the designation. Detailed information about the scaled score required to pass each examination can be found in the candidate handbooks.

HPCC works diligently to ensure the validity of its programs and is thankful for the volunteers who keep our programs running.