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Values, Nurse Business, Nurses, Trust, Public Health, Holistic Nursing, American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corp (AHNCC)
Sharon Burch
The American Nurses Association has recognized holistic nursing as a nursing specialty since 2006. If you have a calling to provide the best care to patients, you may want to consider holistic nursing.
What is Holistic Nursing?
According to the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), holistic nursing is the practice of healing the whole person: not just the body. Holistic nurses use a holistic philosophy in their approach to patients. Holistic nursing is based on the teachings of Florence Nightingale, and it is helpful in all settings and for all populations. Any nurse in any environment or specialty can practice holistic nursing.
How Holistic Nurses Set Themselves Apart
Holistic nursing differs from conventional nursing care by focusing on healing the whole person. In addition to healing a person’s physical body, holistic nurses also care for the patient’s emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Holistic nurses choose to be instruments and facilitators of healing.
Another aspect of holistic nursing is internal. Holistic nurses are encouraged to incorporate self-care, self-responsibility, reflection, and spirituality into their daily lives. They are encouraged to care for themselves, personally, as well as care for their patients.
The basis of this approach is that a nurse’s attitude and feelings impact how they interact with patients. Nurses who are tired and emotionally unavailable create an unhealthy environment for themselves, their coworkers, and their patients. Nurses who take care of themselves are better rested, more emotionally available to others, and better able to facilitate a healing environment.
The Core Values of Holistic Nursing
The Standards of Holistic Nursing described by the American Holistic Nursing Association include five core values:
- Holistic Philosophy and Education. Holistic nursing is based on the philosophical principles of holism and a commitment to education, knowledge, and reflection.
- Holistic Ethics, Theories, and Research. Holistic nursing is based on theory, research, and ethical principles, which enable a thoughtful and competent practice.
- Holistic Nurse Self-Care. Holistic nursing believes nurses must practice self-care to be better able to serve others.
- Holistic Communication, Therapeutic Environment, and Cultural Competence. Holistic nursing requires nurses to engage with patients to promote mutually agreed-upon goals for the patient’s healing.
- A Holistic Caring Process. Holistic nursing embraces an evolving process that uses assessments and cares that address patients’ needs, problems, and patterns in a caring environment.
Brief History of Holistic Nursing
Charlie McGuire formed the AHNA in January 1981 after witnessing problems within the nursing and medical communities throughout the 1970s. The founding meeting was held in Houston, Texas, and included 33 nurses from eight states. The AHNA now serves over 5,500 members. It offers continuing nursing education (CNE) accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, including through a Journal of Holistic Nursing, an annual conference, regional conferences, online webinars, and the Beginnings magazine.
Holistic nursing and the AHNA, however, have roots much further back. Current practices are based on the work and theories of Florence Nightingale. Through Nightingale’s observations, experiences, and detailed recordkeeping and statistics from nursing wounded soldiers, she helped create formal and science-based nursing education. Much of her work is the basis for modern nursing today, including the holistic nursing specialty.
What Holistic Nurses Do?
Holistic nurses carry the typical responsibilities of registered nurses, and they take additional steps to help their patients heal physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and spiritually. In Holistic Nursing: A Way of Being, a Way of Living, a Way of Practice, Lucia Thornton, former president of the AHNA, reveals what it means to be a holistic nurse:
- Acknowledging a sacredness of being. Holistic nurses believe people are sacred spiritual beings. This is directly congruent with Florence Nightingale’s view of individuals as a reflection of the divine.
- Practicing self-care and self-awareness. Holistic nurses examine and reflect upon themselves and their lives to pursue a healthy lifestyle. This includes reflecting on self-doubt, low self-esteem, attitudes, and beliefs based on social conditions and early life experiences through meditation, mindfulness practices, journaling, and other forms of introspection.
- Caring for the environment. Holistic nurses advocate for and heal our planet because its health is linked to people’s health. This also extends to creating a healing environment for patients, which includes fresh air, clean surroundings, a visual and sonic experience that is pleasing to the patient, and more.
- Setting intentions. Holistic nurses are encouraged to center themselves and set intentions for the healing process with patients. This encompasses setting aside other thoughts and concerns, being present in the moment, connecting with their feelings, and breathing deeply. By setting intentions, holistic nurses set aside their concerns and focus their attention on patients.
- Being present with their patients. Holistic nurses are encouraged to be fully present with their patients and connect emotionally and spiritually.
- Using complementary and integrative approaches to health and healing. Holistic nurses work closely with patients to determine whether any complementary or integrative therapies would benefit the patients’ healing and wellness goals.
Holistic Nursing Modalities
There are myriad practices holistic nurses may incorporate into their own lives, offer to their patients, and partner with communities to expand the focus on wholism and support our innate ability to enjoy health and well-being. These practices include, but are not limited to the following examples:
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Careers in Holistic Nursing
You can practice as a holistic nurse in any setting where nurses work. Many holistic nurses practice in hospitals and medical facilities. Others practice in a range of private settings. Holistic nurses can work in:
- Hospitals
- Hospice
- Palliative care
- Long-term care
- Private practice
- Consultancies
- Birth centers
- Academic/educational settings
Salary figures for holistic nurses depend on their specific position, setting, or location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on registered nurses, the median pay for registered nurses in 2018 was $71,730 annually as of January 2019. Employment is expected to grow 12% between 2018 and 2028.
How To Become a Holistic Nurse
Become a Licensed Nurse
Holistic nurses are legally licensed nurses. You must meet the educational and training requirements for becoming a registered nurse in your state.
Obtain Specialized Continuing Education (CE)
The most frequent way nurses strengthen their holistic viewpoint and skills is through attending continuing education (CE) courses. The two leaders of holistic nursing CE courses in the USA and globally are:
Optional: Obtain Specialized Academic Education
Registered nurses have the option of pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree specific to holistic nursing. As of July 2021, there are 15 AHNCC-endorsed academic nursing education programs in the United States.
Optional: Obtain Specialty Certification
You do not have to become certified to practice holistic nursing, but certification designates your professional knowledge and experience to others. If you wish to specialize in holistic nursing, you can obtain a holistic nurse certification through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation. To be eligible for HN-BC, you must have:
- Graduated from a nationally-accredited nursing program
- A registered nursing license
- At least one year in full-time practice or 2,000 hours of part-time practice within the previous five years
- At least 48 contact hours of continuing nursing education in holistic nursing theory, research, practice, or related topics within the previous two years
To be certified by the AHNCC as a holistic nurse, you need to have a minimum of 48 hours of continuing nursing education (CNE) in holistic nursing topics. The higher certifications require higher levels of education. Once you apply and show that you are eligible, you then must pass a quantitative examination.
Holistic Nursing Certifications
There are five holistic nursing certifications you can pursue through the AHNCC. Four of these give a holistic nursing credential and one gives a nurse coaching credential.
Holistic Nurse Board Certified (HN-BC)
This is the most basic level of certification as a holistic nurse. This is available to all registered nurses who meet or exceed the criteria. The requirements for an HN-BC are as follows:
- Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license
- 2,000 hours or one year of full-time practice within the last five years
- 48 continuing education (CE) hours in holistic nursing theory, research, practice, or related topics
- Graduate of nationally-accredited nursing program
Holistic Nurse Baccalaureate Board Certified (HNB-BC)
An HNB-BC is a holistic nursing certification for nurses who have a baccalaureate degree. Requirements for an HNB-BC are:
- Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license
- 2,000 hours or one year of full-time practice within the last five years
- 48 continuing education (CE) hours in holistic nursing theory, research, practice, or related topics
- Graduate of nationally-accredited baccalaureate nursing program
Advanced Holistic Nurse Board Certified (AHN-BC)
An AHN-BC is a certification for nurses with a graduate degree. Requirements for AHN-BC are:
- Unrestricted, current U.S. RN license
- 2,000 hours or one year of full-time practice within the last five years and a minimum of 500 hours at the advanced level
- 48 continuing education (CE) hours in holistic nursing theory, research, practice, or related topics
- Graduate of nationally-accredited graduate nursing program
Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse Board Certified (APHN-BC)
This is the most advanced certification for holistic nurses. Requirements for an APHN-BC are the same as the AHN-BC, PLUS:
- You must be an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). An APRN is a nurse who has an MSN degree, post-master’s certificate, or practice-focused doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree.
- The certification exam has an additional 50 questions that cover knowledge and responsibilities related to interactions between nutrition, herbs, and prescription medications.
Do You Have to Be Certified to Practice as a Holistic Nurse?
No. Certification is not required to practice as a holistic nurse, but it does signal to employers, peers, and the public that you have demonstrated standardized knowledge and experience in holistic nursing.
Additional Resources for Holistic Nursing
American Holistic Nurses Association
American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation
Holistic Nursing Scope & Standards of Practice by the AHNA and ANA
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