Holistic nurse practitioners (HNPs) employ natural therapies, herbal remedies and nutritional supplements to treat patients on both an emotional and physical level. Furthermore, HNPs suggest diet changes and exercise programs for optimal care.
Career nurses who pursue holistic nurse practitioner careers report high levels of job satisfaction and fulfillment, making this career path one that should bring you immense rewards. This guide offers all of the steps needed to become one.
Physical Assessment
A holistic nurse practitioner takes into account all aspects of patient wellness when providing care, following Florence Nightingale’s pioneering nursing philosophy of balancing emotional, spiritual, and mental aspects of patient wellness. Such nurses may use mind-body practices or energy therapies in addition to traditional medical education and licensure; holistic nursing may be applied in any healthcare setting.
At their physical assessment, holistic nurses conduct a holistic examination that looks at internal systems as well as any external factors that may impede on a patient’s wellbeing, including diet, lifestyle and environment. Their aim is to identify the source of an illness; for instance, if diabetes is diagnosed as the source, holistic nurses will not only treat its symptoms but will address issues that could contribute such as stress levels, lack of sleep or unhealthy eating habits that contribute to its progression.
After conducting their physical assessment, holistic nurse practitioners will collaborate with patients to devise an individualized care plan which takes into account all aspects of health and wellbeing, such as nutritional counseling, natural remedies, lifestyle modifications or even working closely with doctors and therapists for complete treatment plans.
Holistic nurses must attend conferences and meetings to remain current in their field, while fulfilling continuing education requirements to maintain their licenses as Registered Nurses. CEU requirements vary by state, so holistic nurses should seek further information from their local nursing board for more details.
Whoever wishes to become a holistic nurse must first obtain their bachelor’s degree in nursing through either an associate’s degree program or through enrolling in a nursing school that offers RN-to-BSN programs. After earning this qualification, holistic nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).
Counseling
Holistic nurse practitioners provide care that goes beyond physical health to include their emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Their care philosophy rests upon the principle that body, mind, and spirit are interdependent – instead of treating symptoms alone they focus on treating causes for their illnesses as well as encouraging lifestyle changes to promote wellness.
Holistic nurse practitioners go beyond standard nursing duties by also counseling their patients on holistic practices that may combine traditional medical techniques and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices to achieve optimal health for each of their clients.
Holistic nurses might recommend meditation to help their patients relax and manage stress, along with diet changes, exercise programs and acupuncture to address the root causes of their conditions. Such holistic care may lead to more meaningful and long-lasting solutions.
Holistic nurse practitioners are equipped to combine traditional and complementary approaches in their practice thanks to their comprehensive understanding of both conventional medicine and alternative therapies. It’s their duty, however, to recognize when certain techniques don’t suit a patient and refer them accordingly – or refer them onward as necessary.
As part of their professional obligations, holistic nurse practitioners must uphold the highest standards of conduct and ethics, adhering to nursing ethical codes as well as certification requirements from various national organizations. Furthermore, holistic nurse practitioners often work independently so must comply with state regulations regarding their scope of practice.
Holistic nurse practitioners generally experience great satisfaction in their careers due to the integrative and patient-centric nature of their practices. They find satisfaction in addressing patients’ overall health concerns while encouraging healthy lifestyle choices that reduce recurrence risk; this results in greater patient engagement as well as enhanced healthcare system results.
Treatment Planning
Nurses specializing in holistic healthcare generally report high levels of job satisfaction due to its patient-centric and integrative nature. HNPs combine conventional medical practices with alternative healing modalities such as herbal medicine, meditation, yoga and acupuncture in order to treat root causes of disease rather than just surface symptoms.
HNPs advocate for self-care, encouraging their patients to adopt healthier lifestyle habits. HNPs promote personal accountability and spiritual wellbeing through activities like journaling, mindfulness practice and introspection; additionally they may suggest diet changes, stress relief techniques or natural remedies as support mechanisms to aid health and wellness.
Holistic nurse practitioners perform many of the same functions as general nurse practitioners, such as conducting health assessments, diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medications/treatments for each individual client. Furthermore, these holistic practitioner must adhere to all nursing regulations such as ANCC certification and professional ethics regulations.
Contrasting traditional medical practitioners, holistic nurse specialists possess an in-depth knowledge of human spirit and body. Skilled at active listening and creating therapeutic relationships with their patients, these nurses specialize in building trusting bonds while possessing both Eastern and Western methods of treatment.
Holistic nurses can be found working in various settings, from private practices to birthing centers, holistic health clinics and hospitals. Many holistic nurses choose to specialize in one area such as midwifery or geriatrics for their career goals.
To become a holistic nurse, you must first be registered nurse holding either an RN to BSN degree completion program or Master’s of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Holistic Nurse Practitioner Studies. Once qualified, you can look for jobs within your chosen setting. Holistic nurses can work in traditional healthcare environments as well, although you will likely be expected to incorporate more conventional medical practices than holistic ones. This may create conflict and strain your traditional nursing skills against workplace demands – however, as long as steps are taken to promote holistic wellbeing in your workplace this won’t prevent an enjoyable career in traditional healthcare!
Education
Holistic nurse practitioners generally take an integrative approach to patient care that takes into account a person’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. They may incorporate alternative forms of treatment and medicine such as herbal remedies, acupuncture treatments and mindfulness techniques as part of their practice.
Education of patients is at the core of holistic nurse practitioner work. They teach patients how to adopt healthier behaviors such as exercise, sleep, nutrition and natural supplements such as turmeric or ashwagandha to relieve anxiety or stress. Furthermore they encourage meditation practices as well as mindful breathing techniques like deep-breathing exercises.
Holistic nurses may opt to specialize in one particular healing technique. For instance, nurses trained in Ayurveda – an Indian system of healing that emphasizes balance – could offer advice to their patients regarding how best to balance the three doshas that influence physical and mental traits (vata, pitta and kapha). According to Ayurvedic practitioners, an imbalance among any of these three forces leads to disease.
AHNCC provides two levels of certification for nurses looking to become holistic nurse practitioners: HN-BC (Holistic Nurse Board Certified) requires completion of an accredited nursing program, while APHN-BC (Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse Board Certified).
Holistic nurse practitioners can work in any environment where other nurse practitioners are employed, including hospitals, private practices, birthing centers, integrative health facilities and educational institutions. Additionally they may find employment with alternative medicine settings like chiropractic offices, yoga studios, naturopathic practices or physical therapy clinics.
Many holistic nurses find working in private practice gives them more freedom to explore specialized holistic modalities with their patients, such as offering acupuncture, therapeutic massage, or meditation guidance. Furthermore, working in this setting enables holistic nurses to build lasting relationships with each individual patient while creating holistic strategies tailored specifically to each patient’s wellness goals.
