Holistic nurse practitioners take an integrative approach to healthcare. Recognizing that body and mind are inextricable, these practitioners use various techniques to heal both.
Holistic nursing may be your perfect career option if you prefer taking an approachable and humanistic approach to patient care. Read up on this emerging discipline with our guide to holistic nurse practitioner certification.
Practice
Holistic nursing is an approach to patient care that recognizes the interdependency of body and spirit, incorporating practices such as self-care, integrative therapy and various healing modalities into care plans for each person. Holistic nursing has become increasingly popular both domestically and abroad – WGU offers online RN-to-BSN degree programs year round so you could embark on your new chapter sooner than you think!
Holistic nurses generally work with all kinds of patients and healthcare settings, including emergency rooms and intensive care units. There are specializations within holistic nursing that cater specifically to certain populations like adult or geriatric nurse practitioners; other nurses choose wellness coaching – an integrative form of holistic therapy combining fitness, nutrition and other therapeutic modalities – as their area of specialization.
American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) provides guidelines and standards of practice for holistic nurses. In essence, their purpose is to treat all aspects of a patient–body, mind, emotions and spirit–and seeks to identify the source of health issues in each case.
Holistic nurses use natural medicine, such as herbal remedies or yoga poses. Acupuncture, meditation or massage therapy may also be utilized to promote wellness. Furthermore, holistic nurses must recognize the significance of diet and lifestyle decisions on health outcomes as well as how environmental influences may have an effect on overall wellness.
Master’s degrees in nursing typically offer holistic nurse practitioner specialization as part of their coursework, such as advanced pathophysiology, health assessment and pharmacology courses. Furthermore, classes may address holistic nursing principles and core concepts, including presence/intention/spirit-mind-body perspectives.
Nurses with backgrounds in psychiatry or psychology may pursue post-master’s certificate programs in holistic nursing at various universities; such programs aim to integrate concepts of holism into clinical nursing settings.
Education
Holistic nurse practitioners use both conventional medical practices and complementary therapies like meditation or herbal medicine to address all aspects of health in a person. Recently, UConn School of Nursing launched the country’s first fully online graduate certificate in holistic nursing so nurses could gain the skills needed to incorporate this approach into their work practices.
Registered nurses seeking holistic nurse certification should complete either a bachelor’s or associate degree in nursing (ADN). Beyond fulfilling state educational and licensing requirements, holistic nursing master’s programs such as University of Connecticut’s Holistic Nurse Practice Graduate Certificate prepare graduates to take the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation’s (AHNCC) holistic nurse board certification exam.
As holistic nurses, holistic nurses must have an unwavering desire to assist their patients in reaching their maximum health potential. Unlike traditional medical professionals, holistic nurses view body, mind and spirit as interrelated entities requiring balance for optimal well-being of the patient. Holistic nurses emphasize creating trusting relationships with their patients that encourage communication, respect, and understanding between patient and nurse.
Holistic NPs treat the root causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms on its surface level. For instance, they might suggest herbal supplements or acupuncture to manage pain caused by physical or mental stress, or may utilize Ayurveda’s ancient Indian system of Ayurveda medicine which seeks to balance three fundamental energies known as vata, pitta and kapha which have an influence over one’s physical and mental characteristics.
Holistic nurses go beyond practicing holistic care principles to consider environmental sustainability as well. Understanding that our planet’s wellbeing depends upon it, they encourage their patients to adopt healthy eating habits, exercise regularly and meditate – and recommend natural products and herbal remedies over pharmaceutical drugs which could have harmful side effects.
Certification
Holistic nursing encompasses a diverse array of practices. Nurses who choose this field may employ various healing modalities such as massage therapy, herbal remedies and meditation for healing purposes. Furthermore, they might advise their patients about dietary changes, exercise routines and stress reduction techniques to manage their condition effectively; additionally they might use natural products and supplements that relieve pain, anxiety and other symptoms of illness.
To be eligible to practice holistic nursing, a registered nurse must fulfill both state and national licensing requirements. This usually entails earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, passing the national licensure exam, and being licensed in their state of employment as a registered nurse.
The American Holistic Nurses Credentialing CorporationExternal link:open_in_new is responsible for administering certification processes for nurses who choose holistic practice. Nurses interested in earning either their AHN-BC or AHN-AC credentials should pursue them.
Certification through the AHNCC to earn an AHN-AC is recognized for their contribution to holistic nursing and nurse coaching, with this process available to RNs with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing.
Holistic nurse treatments differ from traditional medical approaches in that they consider both mind and spirit as part of treatment plans for their patients. Holistic nurses aim to identify the source of health problems before treating their roots through lifestyle issues related to diet, supplements, alternative medicine or relaxation techniques.
Holistic nurses also advocate for self-care, including reflection and spiritual practice. Nurses who prioritize their own wellness tend to be better rested and emotionally available to their patients, creating an optimal healing environment for all involved.
Are You Exploring Holistic Nursing as a Profession? WGU Offers Flexible Online RN-BSN Courses If so, why not join WGU’s flexible, fully online RN-BSN programs today to explore them further? Speak to an Enrollment Counselor today about this great opportunity that brings nursing with healing modalities together under one roof? It could start sooner than you think!
Licensing
Step one in becoming a holistic nurse practitioner is completing an undergraduate nursing program leading to either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Associate Degree Nursing (ADN). Once this education requirement has been fulfilled, passing your state licensing exam and becoming registered can follow shortly thereafter. Furthermore, consider furthering your studies with a master’s in Nursing Leadership & Management which could open up additional career options and pay options.
Many states mandate certification in complementary alternative medicine modalities such as herbal therapies and meditation for nurses to practice. A certified holistic nurse may choose to incorporate some of these practices into their own practice as part of treating patients, or suggest they be explored further by them.
Holistic nursing is grounded in theory, research and ethical principles, with nurses engaging patients in an interactive caring process to promote mutually agreed upon goals for healing and wellbeing. This form of nursing offers powerful means of connecting with patients while creating therapeutic environments tailored specifically to meet their needs.
Holistic nurses follow the same basic medical procedures and patient care guidelines as traditional registered nurses; however, their approach differs in several key ways. Holistic nurses treat the entire person instead of just treating symptoms; they encourage patients to take ownership for their health by encouraging self-care practices, integrative therapies, or other holistic wellness-based techniques.
Pacific College’s accredited Nurse Practitioner program can help you make an exciting, fulfilling career in holistic healthcare a reality. Our rigorous curriculum, innovative teaching methods and highly acclaimed faculty will equip you to lead change within the holistic healthcare world and begin practice supporting New Yorker’s health and wellbeing – so reach out today and let our admissions team get you started on this rewarding path to a rewarding future! Reach out our admissions team now.
