Ep. 50 - Shaping the Future: Innovations in Hospice & Palliative Nursing Education and Mentorship

Welcome to Episode 50 of the HPNA Palliative Perspective podcast—a meaningful milestone, and one that gave us pause to reflect on the incredible leaders who’ve shaped the hospice and palliative care space. In early conversations about this episode, we considered dedicating it to Betty Ferrell, a visionary in the field and the longtime Editor-in-Chief of JHPN, the Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing.

But, in true Betty fashion, those close to her reminded us she prefers to stay out of the spotlight. So instead, we’re honoring her legacy in a way we think she’d appreciate: by celebrating the educators.

In this episode, we're shining a light on the hospice and palliative nurse educators featured in an upcoming issue of JHPN—innovators who are creating new programs and pushing boundaries in their Schools of Nursing to bring both primary and specialty palliative care to the forefront of nursing education. Their work is not only advancing the field but also shaping the future of compassionate care.

Join Andra Davis, PhD, MN, RN, and Megan Lippe, PhD, MSN, RN, ANEF, FPCN®, FAAN—guest editors of the November issue of JHPN—as they share powerful insights on preparing the next generation of nurses in hospice and palliative care. Educating future nurses requires more than just a solid curriculum—it demands mentorship, creativity, and a deep, ongoing commitment. In this episode, we explore why palliative care is no longer a “nice to have,” but a necessity in nursing education. From shifts in accreditation standards to real-world bedside challenges, Drs. Davis and Lippe discuss the essential role faculty and mentors play in helping students navigate the emotional, clinical, and human complexities of whole person care. We also explore how practicing nurses can be part of this movement—supporting learners and strengthening the future of compassionate care.

Podcast Notes/Links

JPHN Article, releasing in Nov— https://journals.lww.com/jhpn/pages/default.aspx

Betty Ferrell, speaking at HPNA Annual Conference, link

Scope, Standards and Competencies for the Hospice & Palliative RN & APRN, link

The Corner https://www.aacnnursing.org/elnec/elnec-faculty-corner

Megan Lippe, PhD, MSN, RN, ANEF, FPCN®, FAAN Dr. Lippe is Associate Professor with tenure at the University of Texas Health San Antonio and a national leader in palliative nursing education. Her work focuses on educational innovation, simulation, interprofessional collaboration, and social justice. She serves as a co-investigator for the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), helping advance palliative care education in nursing programs across the country. She has co-authored several key works in the field of palliative care, including undergraduate and graduate palliative care competence statements endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (CARES and G-CARES, respectively), ELNEC Undergraduate/New Graduate and ELNEC Graduate online curricula, and the scopes section of the new Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) Scopes, Standards, and Competencies for Hospice and Palliative Registered Nurses (RNs) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). In collaboration with colleagues, she has conducted research that led to the development of new tools to assess palliative care curriculum, self-competence, and knowledge among nursing students and entry-level nurses. Honors include 2019 Cambia Sojourns Scholar, 2017 ELNEC Award, and 2019 HPNA New Investigator Award. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the Academy of Nursing Education and of Palliative Care Nursing by HPNA.

Andra Davis, PhD, MN, RN Is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Portland, where she teaches across both undergraduate and graduate programs. She is a co-investigator with the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) and brings extensive clinical expertise in cancer symptom management, palliative care, and primary palliative nursing education.

Dr. Davis’s research centers on strengthening palliative care education, including revising national competency guidelines and developing outcome measures for undergraduate nursing programs. She is recognized for her leadership at regional and national levels in advancing the integration of palliative care into nursing curricula. Internationally, she collaborates with nursing colleagues in Thailand that expand access to palliative education, research, and caregiver wellbeing. Her scholarship also contributes to the evidence base for nurse-led, evidence-informed symptom management guides for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP Dr. Brett Snodgrass has been a registered nurse for 28 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 18 years, practicing in multiple settings, including family practice, urgent care, emergency departments, administration, chronic pain and palliative medicine. She is currently the Operations Director for Palliative Medicine at Baptist Health Systems in Memphis, TN. She is board certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is also a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. She completed a Doctorate of Nursing Practice at the University of Alabama – Huntsville. She is a nationally recognized nurse practitioner speaker and teacher. Brett is a chronic pain expert, working for more than 20 years with chronic pain and palliative patients in a variety of settings. She is honored to be the HPNA 2025 podcast host. She is married with two daughters, two son in laws, one grandson, and now an empty nest cat. She and her family are actively involved in their church and she is an avid reader.