Nursing, Nursing RN, Exam Prep
So, What’s the CHPN® Exam Like?
Jun 19, 2019
It pays to be mentally prepared for what’s to come on CHPN exam day! Here, we outline what you can expect—from format to timing and everything in between.
Offered by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), the CHPN® credential was developed to demonstrate knowledge and experience in the role of the hospice and palliative nurse.
The CHPN exam is offered through PSI Services (PSI), with certification valid for four years.
The Format
Offered as a computer-based exam (CBT), the CHPN exam format allows you to take the test in one sitting and get your Pass/Fail score, along with your raw and scaled score.
There are 150 multiple-choice questions with four answer choices.
The Questions and Time
Of the 150 questions you’ll encounter, only 135 will be counted toward your score; the additional 15 questions are pretest questions used to validate new questions for future exams. Note that you won’t know which questions are counted and which aren’t, so be sure to answer each one as if it’s being counted.
The CHPN Exam
You’ll be given three hours to complete the exam, with the option to take a practice examination beforehand that won’t count toward your testing time. Throughout the exam, you’re able to provide feedback by making comments on individual test questions.
The content of the exam is directly related to work performed by hospice and palliative nurses as identified through a role delineation study that was conducted by the HPCC.
Detailed Content Outline
The Results
Once you’ve finished your CHPN exam and have patted yourself on the back, you’ll be asked to complete a brief survey regarding your experience. Then you can head up to the proctor for your pass/fail score report.
Within a few weeks of passing, an official certificate will be mailed to you from the Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center.
Resources:
Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center. (2019). CHPN Candidate Handbook. Retrieved from http://documents.goamp.com/Publications/candidateHandbooks/HPCC-CHPN-Handbook.pdf
PSI. (n.d.). Welcome to PSI Candidate Services. Retrieved from http://online.goamp.com/CandidateHome/CandidateInformation.aspx
Wright, P. M. (2019). Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) Exam Review. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Offered by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC), the CHPN® credential was developed to demonstrate knowledge and experience in the role of the hospice and palliative nurse.
The CHPN exam is offered through PSI Services (PSI), with certification valid for four years.
The Format
Offered as a computer-based exam (CBT), the CHPN exam format allows you to take the test in one sitting and get your Pass/Fail score, along with your raw and scaled score.
There are 150 multiple-choice questions with four answer choices.
The Questions and Time
Of the 150 questions you’ll encounter, only 135 will be counted toward your score; the additional 15 questions are pretest questions used to validate new questions for future exams. Note that you won’t know which questions are counted and which aren’t, so be sure to answer each one as if it’s being counted.
The CHPN Exam
You’ll be given three hours to complete the exam, with the option to take a practice examination beforehand that won’t count toward your testing time. Throughout the exam, you’re able to provide feedback by making comments on individual test questions.
The content of the exam is directly related to work performed by hospice and palliative nurses as identified through a role delineation study that was conducted by the HPCC.
Detailed Content Outline
| Topic | Percentage of CHPN® examination |
| Patient Care: Life-Limiting Conditions in Adult Patients | 18% |
| Patient Care: Pain Management | 22% |
| Patient Care: Symptom Management | 24% |
| Patient and Family Care, Education, and Advocacy | 24% |
| Practice Issues | 12% |
The Results
Once you’ve finished your CHPN exam and have patted yourself on the back, you’ll be asked to complete a brief survey regarding your experience. Then you can head up to the proctor for your pass/fail score report.
Within a few weeks of passing, an official certificate will be mailed to you from the Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center.
Resources:
Hospice & Palliative Credentialing Center. (2019). CHPN Candidate Handbook. Retrieved from http://documents.goamp.com/Publications/candidateHandbooks/HPCC-CHPN-Handbook.pdf
PSI. (n.d.). Welcome to PSI Candidate Services. Retrieved from http://online.goamp.com/CandidateHome/CandidateInformation.aspx
Wright, P. M. (2019). Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN) Exam Review. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.