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Community Healthcare of Texas Nurses Earn National Certification

Community Healthcare of Texas, the state’s largest not-for-profit hospice and palliative care provider, is proud to recognize members of their team who recently earned Certified Hospice & Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) status through the Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association.

Kristy Johnke, LMSW, RN, CHPN, CHC, is the Chief Operating Officer for Community Healthcare of Texas and has been with the organization since 2017. She has extensive experience in the healthcare industry and believes that the ability to remove barriers and provide quality patient care is the essence of not-for-profit hospice and palliative care. 

Parrish Horton, RN, CHPN, joined the Community Healthcare of Texas family almost ten years ago. As Senior Director, she oversees the clinical operations of the Cleburne, Dallas, and Fort Worth locations. She is gifted at developing leaders for the organization and raising awareness about the importance of hospice and palliative care.

Mary Fyfe, RN, CHPN, is an Admissions Nurse at Community Healthcare of Texas and is often the first point of contact for patients and their families on their hospice journey. She finds the greatest joy in getting to know her patients and working closely with them to develop a detailed care plan to make the most of every moment.

Eligibility requirements for certification include a minimum of 500 hours in hospice and palliative nursing in the past 12 months and passing a comprehensive exam. In addition to the time commitment nurses must invest in preparing for the certification process, there is also a cost associated with taking the exam. However, in early 2022, a generous gift from the estate of a Community Healthcare of Texas patient provided the seed money for a program that covers the expenses of any Community Healthcare of Texas nurse who pursues CHPN status.

Since the program was rolled out at Community Healthcare of Texas in 2022, a total of 7 RNs and 2 LVNs have completed their certification, with several others starting the program in the coming months.

About Community Healthcare of Texas-Providence Hospice

Community Healthcare of Texas is the state’s largest not-for-profit provider of hospice and palliative care services. Since 1996, the organization has provided end-of-life care services for adult and pediatric patients across North and Central Texas. With five office locations and two inpatient hospice houses, Community Healthcare of Texas serves 25 Dallas, Fort Worth, and Waco counties. 

 

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