The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation recently awarded seven outstanding professionals with a 2025 Sandra Lee Schafer Certification Scholarship. Among the recipients was Jannine Bournias, AGNP-C, a proud member of HPNA and a dedicated Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) from New Jersey.

House Nursing Caucus leaders are circulating a Dear Colleague letter that requests $530 million for the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Nursing Workforce Development programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. As you know, these programs are critical to the nursing community and support nursing students, nurses, and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). HPNA needs your help to get as many representatives’ signatures on the letter as possible to make a strong case to Appropriations Committee leaders to support this funding level for FY 2026.

As part of HPNF’s “Nurturing a Community of Caregivers” campaign, we are honored to share the inspiring stories of nurses whose passion and dedication are shaping the future of hospice and palliative nursing care. These professionals—empowered by donor support—are making a profound difference in the lives of patients, families, and communities.

The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) mourns the loss of founding member Madalon O’Rawe Amenta, RN, MN, PhD. Dr. Amenta was inspired to join the hospice movement in the 1970s after having read Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ On Death and Dying. “Dr. Amenta’s unwavering dedication to hospice and palliative care inspired generations of nurses,” said HPNA President Masako Mayahara, PhD, RN, FAAN, CHPN®, FPCN®. “We are grateful for her leadership, which allowed us to grow our community to nearly 8,000 hospice and palliative care professionals. Her legacy will be honored through our mission to advance nursing expertise in hospice and palliative care through education, advocacy, leadership, and research.”