Ep. 64- The Human Behind the Credential

In this episode of HPNA Palliative Perspective, we sit down with Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center (HPCC) President Kristin Akers, MSN, ACNP-BC, ACHPN®, FPCN® to talk about her journey into hospice and palliative care and her work advancing professional certification.

Kristin shares why certification is about much more than passing an exam. It can be a source of pride, belonging, professional confidence, and connection to a larger community of people committed to providing high-quality care for patients and families. She also talks about making certification more accessible across roles and disciplines—including nursing assistants, LPNs, RNs, APRNs, and social workers—and why everyone should have the opportunity to see themselves as part of the hospice and palliative care community.

Along the way, Kristin reflects on the mentors who shaped her, the joy she finds in this work, and the unexpected opportunities that come when we step beyond our defined roles and recognize that we have something to offer.

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Kristin Akers, MSN, ACNP-BC, ACHPN®, FPCN® is a Nurse Practitioner with the University of Utah’s Supportive and Palliative Care Program. Her career spans oncology, critical care, palliative care, and communication in healthcare. Kristin is currently serving as the Hospice and Palliative Credentialling Center (HPCC) Board President and in the past served on HPCC’s Exam Development Committee for the Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN®) exam from 2016-2022. It is a privilege to contribute to national standards for hospice and palliative certification.

In addition to clinical practice, Kristin teaches best-practice communication skills regionally as the co-director of Utah Advanced Communication Training (UACT) course and nationally as Distinguished VitalTalk Faculty. She enjoys teaching clinicians across disciplines and professions.

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN, FAANP, has been a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner for 18 years, practicing in multiple settings. She received her DNP from University of Alabama – Huntsville. She is currently the Palliative Medicine System Director of Operations for the Baptist Healthcare System. She is also the president of BBS Health Education – where she creates and presents continuing education for healthcare providers. Brett is a nationally recognized healthcare speaker and nationally recognized pain management expert, working for more than 20 years with pain patients in a variety of settings. She is board certified with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She is also a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and certified as an Advanced Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse.