Sharon Olson, APRN-AGACNP, Blessing Hospice and Palliative Care, has earned Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (ACHPN) status from the national Hospice and Palliative Care Credentialing Center.

Certification requires a Master degree from an advanced practice registered nursing educational program, functioning as a nurse practitioner in a hospice and palliative care advanced nursing practice for 500 hours in the most recent 12 month period and passage of a written examination. Certification is a voluntary process demonstrating expertise in a nursing specialty discipline.

Olson holds a Master degree in nursing and advance nursing practice from Maryville University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Chamberlain College and a diploma in nursing from the Blessing Hospital School of Nursing.

A 34-year member of the Blessing nursing staff, Olson served as a nurse in medical/surgical oncology, on the Skilled Nursing Unit and in dialysis before joining the Blessing Hospice & Palliative Care staff.

She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing Association and the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing.