You may have heard of “holistic nursing,” but might not know what it is. The phrase might conjure up some uncertainty and doubt, evoking questionable practices or even quackery. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Holistic nursing is not only a credible approach to nursing, but an overall philosophy that’s becoming more common as patients and medical professionals alike become more aware of the need for overall patient health, not just the focused treatment of specific ailments.
The word holistic means “emphasizing the importance of the whole and the interdependence of its parts.” That’s the heart of what holistic nursing is all about. Rather than specializing in a specific type of medical care to the exclusion of others, holistic care takes into account all aspects of the patient’s condition, from the physical and emotional to the socioeconomic and environmental. Holistic nursing is basically a “wide-angle lens” through which treatment options are considered.
Some might say that nursing as a profession is already holistic, and in some ways, that’s true. By nature, a nurse has to look at the whole person, and not from a strictly surgical or pharmacological approach (for example). Holistic nursing is the act of caring for the entire person, with focus on their overall well-being, instead of focusing on a singular disease or ailment.
Holistic nursing also sometimes includes more non-traditional medical approaches. We’ll discuss this a bit later on.
Part of the appeal of holistic nursing is that it can be good for the nurses themselves, not just the patients. A holistic nurse will have the skills to integrate elements like spirituality and self-care into their approach to treatment — practices they can use on themselves to help with fatigue and possible burnout.
Can a Registered Nurse (RN) Be a Holistic Nurse?
Yes — as a matter of fact, being an RN is a perquisite to becoming a holistic nurse. One of the first steps on the path to becoming a holistic nurse is to earn an associate or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited nursing program.
After that, you must take your NCLEX-RN examination and get licensure from your state. Once you’ve accumulated some professional experience, you can seek out a certification from the AHNCC. The eligibility requirements to get AHNCC certification are:
- A current and active RN licensure
- A minimum of one year full-time professional nursing experience
- Several hours of continuing education in holistic nursing theory, research, or practice
- Graduation from of a nationally accredited nursing program.
Holistic nursing certifications are good for five years, after which they must be renewed.
Although it’s not strictly necessary for the purposes of holistic nursing, many nursing students find it useful and advantageous to go further than that and complete their Doctor of Nursing Practice degree.
What Type of Treatments Do Holistic Nurses Do?
While holistic nurses will obviously be versed in traditional medical approaches, the “wide-angle” approach of holistic nursing may lead them to embrace and recommend some alternative medicine. While there’s no need for certifications in alternative medicine, many holistic nurses choose to integrate complimentary approaches into their nursing practice.
A few of the common alternative approaches include:
- Acupuncture
- Aromatherapy
- Hypnosis
- Hydrotherapy
- Meditation
- Stress management
- Wellness coaching
Holistic nurses may also integrate dance, yoga, music, and healing practices into their practice. While some might be skeptical about less traditional approaches like aromatherapy and acupuncture, it’s important to note these generally aren’t considered the first-line treatment options for patients, but rather as additional options to help with the mental and emotional state of the patients — part of the “whole” approach that is the main principle of holistic nursing.
Where Do Holistic Nurses Work?
While many holistic nurses choose to work in the traditional hospital setting, that isn’t as common as you might think. Since holistic nurses tend not to need the same sort of equipment frequently used in traditional hospitals, they don’t need to be tied to a hospital setting at all. Many holistic nurses choose to practice for private establishments, birthing centers, universities and colleges, and out of patients’ homes (for home healthcare dealing with more serious conditions).
Not surprisingly, many holistic nurses choose to start their own practice, for greater flexibility and focus. But in general, you can find them working almost everywhere traditional nurses work.
The Role Holistic Nurses Play in Patient Education
Nurses already play a vital role in the healthcare system, providing patient advocacy, focus on well-being, and enhancing the quality of patient care. But nurses are also vital to patient education: teaching patients about their treatment, the risks to their health, and how best they can look after their health once they’re discharged and away from the hospital. Holistic nursing, with its focus on a wider, more inclusive approach to patient treatment, is ideal for this sort of patient education, as holistic nurses can provide options and alternatives that might not occur to doctors or traditional nurses.
