How to Become a Holistic Nurse: Career Overview
Holistic nursing is a unique approach to healthcare that considers the interconnectedness of the physical, mental, emotional/psychological, spiritual, and environmental aspects of well-being.
Holistic nurses work with patients on all these levels. In this guide, we’ll delve into the path to becoming a holistic nurse, the various roles available, salary expectations, and options for certification.
Time Required to Enter This Career:
Becoming a holistic nurse typically takes 2-4 years.
Job Outlook:
The job outlook for holistic nursing aligns with that of all registered nurses, with a projected 7% growth from 2019 to 2029.
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Earnings Potential:
The average annual salary for holistic nurses is around $75,330, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What Does a Holistic Nurse Do?
Holistic nursing approaches healthcare by considering not only physical health but also the mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental aspects of well-being. The responsibilities of holistic nurses often include:
Primary Responsibilities:
- Encouraging patients to discuss various aspects of their overall well-being.
- Identifying potential complementary care approaches, such as aromatherapy, meditation, or massage.
- Providing advice and care for stress management.
- Offering wellness coaching.
Certification Option:
- Holistic Nursing Certification
Where Do Holistic Nurses Work?
The majority of holistic nurses are employed in acute care hospitals (35%), universities and colleges (20%), and private practices (20%). They perform various duties in these common job settings, and about 10% work in home healthcare.
Hospitals:
- Holistic nurses offer nonpharmacological pain management.
- They educate patients on stress management during recovery.
- They refer patients to or provide effective complementary care.
Universities and Colleges:
- Holistic nurses teach students how to maintain whole-body wellness.
- They advise students on reducing anxiety.
- They lead wellness coaching sessions.
Home Healthcare:
- Holistic nurses assist patients in adapting to serious conditions.
- They advise on nonpharmacological pain relief methods.
- They refer patients to receive spiritual, mental, or emotional care.
Why Become a Holistic Nurse?
Holistic nursing offers the opportunity to make a significant impact because it addresses the diverse needs of patients, beyond just their physical conditions. Holistic nurses typically possess knowledge of complementary or alternative treatments, providing holistic care that is valuable for patients.
However, there are also some challenges to consider, including the potential for insurance to not cover the additional time required for holistic consultations and skepticism among some healthcare professionals about the value of holistic care.
Advantages of Being a Holistic Nurse:
- Holistic nurses can work in a wide range of healthcare or wellness settings.
- Holistic nursing addresses patient needs beyond physical health.
- Holistic care helps patients recover psychologically from life-changing injuries or illnesses.
Disadvantages of Being a Holistic Nurse:
- Holistic consultations may take longer than those addressing only physical issues, and insurance may not cover the full cost.
- Some colleagues may harbor skepticism about the value of holistic care.
- Many holistic treatments lack sufficient research, making it challenging to identify effective approaches.
Steps to Become a Holistic Nurse
- Earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). An ADN program typically takes two years, while a BSN program requires four years. Many higher-level positions, especially in academia, may require a BSN.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain your registered nurse (RN) licensure. The NCLEX-RN is a comprehensive examination that covers various aspects of nursing, including practice, conditions and their treatment, communication, healthcare infrastructure, and legal/ethical issues.
- Gain experience in bedside nursing. While any nurse can incorporate holistic practices, certification as a holistic nurse generally requires nursing experience. Many holistic nurses also study complementary health and wellness approaches, such as massage, meditation, or wellness coaching.
- Consider earning Holistic Nursing Certification. To become certified as a holistic nurse, you need at least one year of full-time or 2,000 hours of part-time experience in holistic nursing over a five-year period, with at least 48 hours of continuing nursing education within two years. The American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation offers four types of certification based on your education level.
How Much Do Holistic Nurses Make?
The median annual salary for holistic nurses is approximately $75,330, based on general RN salary data, while the median annual salary for all occupations is $41,950, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Holistic nurse salaries can vary based on factors such as location, BSN status, and experience.
The BLS projects a 7% growth in RN jobs between 2019 and 2029, faster than the U.S. average. While specific data on the growth of holistic nursing jobs is not available, the ongoing interest in complementary medicine and research into effective complementary practices suggests that the demand for holistic nurses may keep pace with or even exceed the growth of RN positions in general.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What does a holistic nurse do?
- A holistic nurse provides care to patients on all dimensions of wellness, including mental, emotional, environmental, and spiritual health. Holistic nursing care may include complementary and alternative healthcare approaches like aromatherapy, breathwork, or mind-body practices.
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What does it mean to be a holistic nurse?
- A holistic nurse views health and wellness as more than just the absence of physical illness or injury. They provide care that addresses all aspects of health, often incorporating approaches outside traditional Western medicine, such as traditional Eastern wellness practices.
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What are the five core values of holistic nursing?
- The five core values of holistic nursing are:
- Holistic philosophy, theory, and ethics
- Holistic caring process
- Holistic communication, therapeutic environment, and cultural diversity
- Holistic education and research
- Holistic nurse self-care
- The five core values of holistic nursing are:
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How do I become a certified holistic nurse?
- To become a certified holistic nurse, you need a current, unencumbered nursing license, at least one year of full-time or 2,000 hours of part-time experience as a holistic nurse, at least 48 hours of continuing nursing education, and successful completion of the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation certification examination.
Resources for Holistic Nurses
- American Holistic Nurses Association:
The American Holistic Nurses Association offers continuing education, an annual conference, publications, online networking, and discussions. They create self-care resources for holistic nurses and publish the scope and standards of holistic nursing practice. Membership is open to holistic healthcare professionals of any kind. - Journal of Holistic Nursing:
The Journal of Holistic Nursing is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal from Sage Publishing that supports both traditional and emerging approaches to scholarship in the field. Each issue offers opportunities to earn continuing education credits. - Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine:
This bimonthly, peer-reviewed, open-access journal covers traditional medicine, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and the history and cultural context of traditional medicine. It is accepted by the Joint Commission of Taiwan for evaluation of its teaching hospitals. - National League for Nursing:
The National League for Nursing supports nurse educators with professional development opportunities, recognition and awards programs, certification of nursing education programs and nurse educators, advocacy initiatives, and teaching resources. Membership categories include nurse educators, schools of nursing, and associate members.