Holistic nurses work closely with patients to assess whether complementary and alternative therapies would benefit their recovery, taking into account factors like age, culture, religious belief and socioeconomic status.
Nurses specializing in holistic care typically begin their careers by enrolling in nursing school for either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), although many also opt to earn an MSN.
Self-Awareness
Holistic nurse practitioners must be adept at listening and comprehending their patient’s needs, often spending long periods with each individual and becoming well acquainted. Recognizing values, lifestyle choices and spiritual beliefs will enable holistic practitioners to provide comprehensive care that addresses all areas of an individual’s wellbeing.
Mind, body and spirit connections are undeniable; holistic nurses understand this fact and strive to foster it within their patients by encouraging self-care practices such as meditation or spiritual practices like contemplation into daily lives as well as changes to diet or regular physical exercise regimens.
A survey of nurse practitioners in the US revealed that they frequently incorporate holistic caring practices into their practices, with highest scores given for listening, taking time to talk with patients, soliciting patient input on treatment decisions and considering other aspects of a patient’s life that might impact on their medical condition.
Holistic nurse practitioners provide more than traditional nursing services; in addition to these tasks, they frequently perform therapies like acupuncture and meditation, dietetic counseling services and massage therapy treatments.
Holistic nurse practitioners find that their patients appreciate this extra care and attention. Their ability to connect on a personal level often builds trust, leading to more successful treatments of illness as well as referrals that can benefit new nurses in their careers.
Holistic nurses tend to possess extensive knowledge about various healing techniques and methodologies, which allows them to better find treatment plans that suit each of their patients’ needs while building credibility with other nurses in their network. Such knowledge could further their career opportunities if certified through organizations such as the National Society of Health Coaches.
Doing a holistic nurse practitioner requires earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Universities and community colleges across the nation offer programs for prospective holistic NPs to pursue this degree. Options range from traditional four-year baccalaureate programs to an RN-to-BSN option that takes two years – while some programs even provide clinical rotations so participants can put what they’ve learned into action right away!
Self-Care
Holistic nurse practitioners take into account all of the aspects that affect a client’s wellbeing that influence health and recovery, including spiritual, mental, emotional, and social responses to illness or injury.
Holistic processes encompass a wide variety of healing modalities and wellness practices, such as yoga, meditation, massage, acupressure, Eastern medicine, nutritional counseling and herbal therapy. These modalities may be combined with conventional medical treatments in order to enhance both the physical and emotional state of patients.
Holistic nurses also encourage their patients to engage in self-care practices that will promote the body’s natural ability to heal itself, such as exercise, meditation, diet changes and stress relief exercises. Furthermore, holistic nurses educate about ways they can better care for themselves through lifestyle choices like reduced environmental toxins exposure and stress relief exercises.
Many registered nurses may be considering adding holistic practices into their practice, but may be concerned about the additional time and expenses of training. While this concern is valid, remembering the essence of holistic nursing requires more than simply adding new forms of care – it requires also prioritizing one’s own health and wellbeing in order to be an effective holistic nurse.
Studies conducted by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners demonstrated that nurses who prioritize self-care are more likely to feel satisfied with their practice and develop deeper connections with patients. Furthermore, such nurses tend to be better rested and emotionally available to their patients more effectively allowing them to provide superior care services.
Are You Ready to be a Holistic Nurse Practitioner? WGU’s accredited online program for MSN with Holistic Concentration makes becoming one more accessible than ever – take classes year round with WGU and earn your degree more quickly than you ever thought possible. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor today about starting on the path towards helping people heal and thrive through wellness-based approaches to care!
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand another’s feelings. For instance, when your friend expresses excitement over something, you can feel it with them and deepen relationships as well as gain more understanding about other people that could improve both your personal health and professional career as a holistic nurse practitioner.
Although empathy’s definition varies depending on who is defining it, most agree it involves understanding another’s feelings and emotions. Empathy is at the core of holistic nursing philosophy and enables nurses to connect emotionally with patients so they may heal both physically and emotionally. Studies have also demonstrated how empathic physicians have an impactful positive effect on patient outcomes.
Empathy can be challenging for nurses, particularly when faced with personal and professional struggles. Yet most have managed to remain empathic despite difficulties, often finding that this helps them focus on positive aspects of their work.
Holistic nurses promote self-care and self-awareness in addition to practicing empathy. They take time for reflection on their own lives, using meditation, mindfulness practices, journaling or other forms of introspection as ways of getting a deeper insight into themselves and potentially overcome issues like self-doubt, low self-esteem or social conditioning that limit them from becoming their best selves.
Holistic nurse practitioners also advocate the use of alternative therapies to promote holistic healing for their patients, including yoga, tai chi, meditation and massage therapy among others. In doing so they combine Eastern and Western medicine in order to devise the most effective plan of care for every individual patient.
Finding your way into holistic nurse practitioner careers may be achieved in various ways, but most programs require at least a bachelor of nursing (BSN). Registered nurses looking to embark on this career path should enroll at an accredited college or university offering either an associate degree in nursing (ADN), BSN program, or both before taking on this profession. In addition, they must pass their state’s NCLEX-RN exam and become licensed registered nurses before beginning practice; some may opt to expand their studies further and earn a master’s degree – which could open doors to higher paying positions!
Community
Holistic nursing allows nurses to connect with their patients on a deeper level than simply listening to their health concerns, and creates a sense of community between colleagues.
Many holistic nurses seek employment at small to mid-sized healthcare organizations, such as clinics, hospitals, or physician practices. Others may pursue work at chiropractic offices or massage therapy centers depending on their areas of expertise.
Holistic nurse practitioners take an holistic approach to wellness and encourage their patients to adopt behaviors that benefit the mind, body and spirit. This may involve diet changes, stress-relieving workouts or alternative medicines; or it could mean helping find spiritual communities or providing encouragement during stressful periods.
As well, they embrace the philosophy that the whole is greater than its parts and consider environmental considerations to play a critical role in an individual’s overall wellbeing. This means being mindful of pollution, poor air quality and unsustainable practices as potential dangers to public health.
Becoming a holistic nurse practitioner requires additional education beyond becoming a registered nurse (RN). This may involve earning either an associate degree in nursing or bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree and passing the National Council Licensure Examination to gain licensure.
Once certified, holistic nurses can practice either independently or collaborate with other healthcare professionals. Like registered nurses (RNs), holistic nurses must complete continuing education units (CEUs) to stay abreast of healthcare research and clinical practices.
As demand for holistic nurse practitioners grows, so does the need for training new nurses for this rewarding specialty. Pacific College has responded to this increased demand by offering a Holistic-Integrative Health Care Specialist Certification program for advanced practice registered nurses and others looking to learn more about integrative health care models. This comprehensive program integrates online learning with classroom instruction and faculty mentoring for optimal success. The course curriculum emphasizes the use of accessible self-care modalities, reduces test-taking anxiety, promotes holistic nursing principles and increases awareness, while simultaneously building communal support networks and decreasing risks of burnout and compassion fatigue.
