Becoming a Hospice Social Worker
A hospice social worker has advanced training in the field of social work and specialized in the field of hospice or palliative care. This is a branch of social work that can be emotionally draining and demanding. Encompassing a great amount of passion, patience and empathy, these workers are tasked with the goal of improving the quality of life for terminally ill patients and their families. Social workers may receive certification within the field from the National Association of Social Workers.
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Instructions
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Apply to a college or university that has a social work program. This is a field that requires a master's degree in social work in most states, according to the National Association for Social Work.
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Volunteer or do internships within the hospice or palliative care field. Many hospitals, nursing homes and other agencies are glad to receive volunteers and interns to help with their busy loads. This will provide great experience within the field of hospice social work and will help you to decide if this is something that you really want to do. Most importantly, two years of supervised service is required to receive certification.
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Join the National Association of Social Work or the National Council of Hospice and Palliative Professionals. These two organizations are professional organizations that link those who work in the hospice and palliative care field. To join these organizations you may apply online by going on the NASW website at naswdc.org. Professional affiliation with one of these organizations is a requirement of the NASW to become certified in hospice social work.
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Apply for a license to practice professional social work upon graduation. These licenses require you to have to have at least a bachelor's degree in social work (only if your state does not license social workers and then you must have an additional four years of experience). Most states require a master's degree in social work. You must also have two years of supervised social work in palliative or hospice care.
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