Best institutions to study Palliative Care Nursing
A program that prepares registered nurses to provide a combination of active and compassionate therapies intended to comfort and support patients and their families who are living with life-threatening illness.
3 U.S. institutions graduated 19 Palliative Care Nursing students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.3819, a specialization of Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38), and leads most directly to the Registered Nurses occupation (BLS SOC 29-1141).
About Palliative Care Nursing programs
A program that prepares registered nurses to provide a combination of active and compassionate therapies intended to comfort and support patients and their families who are living with life-threatening illness. Includes instruction in pathophysiology, palliative care processes, pain management, pharmacology, loss, grief, death, and bereavement.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Palliative Care Nursing program prepares registered nurses to deliver compassionate care to patients facing life-threatening illnesses. This program focuses on a blend of therapies aimed at providing comfort and support to both patients and their families during difficult times. It is ideal for those who wish to specialize in a critical area of nursing that emphasizes quality of life and emotional support.
Students in this program gain essential skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework covers vital topics such as pain management, grief, loss, and bereavement, equipping nurses with the knowledge needed to support patients through challenging health journeys.
Credentials awarded
What Palliative Care Nursing graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate15 graduates / yr · 2 institutions79%
- Post-master's certificate4 graduates / yr · 1 institution21%
Graduates over time
Palliative Care Nursing completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 33 |
| 2013 | 37 |
| 2014 | 24 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 29 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 19 |
Top 3 institutions for Palliative Care Nursing, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicPost-degree cert. | 9 | 83% | — | $84,969 |
| 2 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 88% | — | $71,175 |
| 3 | Duke University Durham, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 97% | $16,260 | $77,288 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Registered Nursing field (CIP 51.38) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 3 states
Where Palliative Care Nursing graduates come from. Each state links to all Registered Nursing programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 1 | 9 | University of Connecticut9 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 6 | Ohio State University - Main Campus6 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 4 | Duke University4 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1141, Registered Nurses, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Palliative Care Nursing program can pursue careers as registered nurses, with opportunities also available as nurse practitioners or nursing instructors. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 4.9% and approximately 189,100 annual openings. The median wage for registered nurses is around $93,600, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.3819
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Registered Nursesprimary SOC 29-1141 | $97,550 | +4.9% About as fast as average | ~189,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Nurse Practitioners SOC 29-1171 | $132,300 | +40.1% Much faster than average | ~29,500 | Master's degree |
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1072 | $80,250 | +16.8% Much faster than average | ~8,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Palliative Care Nursing programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Record patients' medical information and vital signs.
- Administer medications to patients and monitor patients for reactions or side effects.
- Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Monitor, record, and report symptoms or changes in patients' conditions.
- Provide health care, first aid, immunizations, or assistance in convalescence or rehabilitation in locations such as schools, hospitals, or industry.
- Consult and coordinate with healthcare team members to assess, plan, implement, or evaluate patient care plans.
Tools and technology used
Other Registered Nursing specializations
The 22 other 6-digit CIP codes under Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38).
- Registered Nursing/CIP 51.3801
Registered Nurse 263,325 graduates / yr2,067 institutions - Family Practice Nurse/CIP 51.3805
Nursing 14,703 graduates / yr293 institutions - Nursing PracticeCIP 51.38189,384 graduates / yr322 institutions
- Nursing AdministrationCIP 51.38027,804 graduates / yr198 institutions
- Psychiatric/CIP 51.3810
Mental Health Nurse/ Nursing 5,358 graduates / yr179 institutions - Nursing ScienceCIP 51.38084,605 graduates / yr148 institutions
- Registered NursingCIP 51.38993,940 graduates / yr99 institutions
- Nurse AnesthetistCIP 51.38042,183 graduates / yr72 institutions
- Adult Health Nurse/CIP 51.3803
Nursing 2,125 graduates / yr75 institutions - Public Health/CIP 51.3811
Community Nurse/ Nursing 934 graduates / yr21 institutions - Geriatric Nurse/CIP 51.3821
Nursing 680 graduates / yr43 institutions - Clinical Nurse LeaderCIP 51.3820588 graduates / yr24 institutions
- Nurse Midwife/CIP 51.3807
Nursing Midwifery 530 graduates / yr22 institutions - Critical Care NursingCIP 51.3814505 graduates / yr39 institutions
- Pediatric Nurse/CIP 51.3809
Nursing 389 graduates / yr36 institutions - Women's Health Nurse/CIP 51.3822
Nursing 350 graduates / yr15 institutions - Perioperative/CIP 51.3812
Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/ Nursing 150 graduates / yr10 institutions - Maternal/CIP 51.3806
Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/ Nursing 149 graduates / yr14 institutions - Clinical Nurse SpecialistCIP 51.3813135 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Emergency Room/CIP 51.3816
Trauma Nursing partial data83 graduates / yr9 institutions - Forensic NursingCIP 51.3824partial data26 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Occupational and Environmental Health NursingCIP 51.3815partial data21 graduates / yr3 institutions
Common questions
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate or a Post-master's certificate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
Currently, there are three colleges offering this program.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for registered nurses?+
The job outlook for registered nurses is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.9%.
What is the CIP code for Palliative Care Nursing?+
Palliative Care Nursing is CIP 51.3819 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Registered Nursing (CIP 51.38). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares registered nurses to provide a combination of active and compassionate therapies intended to comfort and support patients and their families who are living with life-threatening illness. Includes instruction in pathophysiology, palliative care processes, pain management, pharmacology, loss, grief, death, and bereavement.
How many institutions offer Palliative Care Nursing programs?+
3 U.S. institutions reported Palliative Care Nursing graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 3 states, awarding 19 credentials in the year. That is 0.0% of all Registered Nursing graduates.
How much do Palliative Care Nursing graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Registered Nurses occupation, which Palliative Care Nursing most directly leads to, pays a median of $97,550 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Registered Nursing field report median earnings of $77,288 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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