When you hear the words “holistic nurse,” what comes to mind? Do you think they don’t practice “real” medicine or that they only treat patients with placebos? There are many misconceptions like these surrounding holistic medicine.
These misconceptions cause patients with chronic illnesses to overlook the possibilities of alternative treatment. We’re here to change your perception of holistic medicine.
In this article, we break down what it means to be a holistic nurse. Keep reading to learn how holistic nursing can help you.
What is a Holistic Nurse?
It isn’t a new trend. Nurses have incorporated holistic principles in their healing treatments for hundreds of years.
The term “holistic nursing” doesn’t refer to one form of treatment. Rather, it’s an umbrella term for all nursing treatments that share a certain common goal. The goal of holistic nursing is to heal not only a patient’s physical illness but also their patient’s emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.
Types of Holistic Nursing Treatments
American Nursing Association (ANA) recognizes holistic nursing as a specialty. Traditional nursing seeks to treat the symptoms of the patient. Holistic nursing takes health care a step further and seeks to treat the patient as a whole.
Common holistic nursing treatments include:
- Acupressure
- Aromatherapy
- Guided Imagery
- Health and Wellness Nurse Coaching
- Mind Body Meditation
Holistic treatments are often combined with traditional medicine. A holistic nurse may recommend that their patient use both types of treatment in tandem.
Education Involved in Holistic Nursing
The first step in becoming a holistic nurse involves getting a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree or an associate degree in nursing (ADN) from an accredited college or university. The next step is passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to officially become a registered nurse (RN). Like traditional RNs, holistic nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN before they can work.
Holistic Nursing by a Different Name
Nurses don’t have to call themselves a holistic nurse to practice holistic nursing. But, they do have to be a board-certified RN. Instead, they could be a nurse coach, practicing complementary alternative medicine, or call themselves an integrative nurse coach or a health and wellness nurse coach.
A professional nurse coach is an RN who may or may not be board certified, however if they are you may see their credentials as Nurse Coach-Board Certified (NC-BC) or Health and Wellness Nurse Coach Board Certified (HWNC-BC); those who are board certified as a Nurse Coach and a Holistic Nurse-Board Certified (HN/HNB/AHN/APHN-BC). Nurse coaching involves working with patients’ needs and collaborate with them to achieve their personal health goals.
Holistic nursing involves focuses on optimizing health and wellness, assist in healing and alleviating suffering. A holistic nurse educates on primary prevention and supporting individuals to find, harmony, peace and balance.
Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) is any medical product or practice not part of standard medical care. Most licensed health professional can practice CAM but is based on their individual state and requires additional education and training. Common CAM practices include mind-body therapies, meditation, and biologically based practices, such as vitamins and dietary supplements.
Like holistic nursing, integrative nursing and cannabis nursing takes a whole person/ whole system approach to medical care. Integrative nursing is not a new specialty but can relatively be difficult to find in most traditional clinical settings and why most holistic nurses gravitate towards holistic nurse entrepreneurship to start their own private practice.
Where To Find a Florida Holistic Nurse
Now that you know what it means to see a holistic nurse and what a holistic nurse can offer, you may consider integrating a holistic nurse into your health care plan and benefit from including this option as an alternative or integrative treatment method. Here are some additional supportive organizations in helping you find qualified and credentialed holistic nurses and nurse coaches online and locally near you:
- American Cannabis Nurses Association
- American Holistic Nurses Association
- American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation
- Homeopathic Nurses Association
- National Nurses In Business Association
If you have a chronic illness or injury, live in another state and open to online tele-nursing from the comfort of your home or live in Florida, reach out to Sage Integrative Wellness to see how Florida holistic nursing can help you.
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