What does a holistic nurse do?

A holistic nurse provides care for patients across all dimensions of wellness, including mental, emotional, environmental, and spiritual health. Holistic nursing care may include complementary and alternative healthcare, such as aromatherapy, breathwork, or mind-body practices.

What does it mean to be a holistic nurse?

A holistic nurse is one who sees health and wellness as much more than the absence of physical illness or injury and who provides care to address all aspects of health. Holistic nursing may include approaches outside contemporary Western practice, such as traditional Eastern approaches to wellness.

What are the five core values of holistic nursing?

The five core values of holistic nursing include holistic philosophy, theory, and ethics; the holistic caring process; holistic communication, therapeutic environment, and cultural diversity; holistic education and research; and holistic nurse self-care.

How do I become a certified holistic nurse?

A certified holistic nurse requires a current, unencumbered nursing license, at least one year (full time) or 2,000 hours (part time) experience as a holistic nurse, at least 48 hours of continuing nursing education, and passing the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation certification examination.

How To Become A Holistic Nurse: Career Overview

How Long to Become
2-4 years

Job Outlook
5% growth from 2024-2034

Annual Salary
$93,600

Holistic Nurse Career in Brief

adn or bsn required

certification optional

Holistic nursing systematically approaches health as the interrelation of physical, mental, emotional/psychological, spiritual, and environmental components to treat patients at each of these levels.

Holistic nursing jobs usually include these responsibilities:

Primary Responsibilities

Encouraging patients to discuss different aspects of their 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 work in acute care hospitals (35%), universities and colleges (20%), and private practices (20%). The following lists duties in common job settings and home healthcare where 10% of holistic nurses work.

Hospitals
Holistic nurses provide nonpharmacological pain management, educate patients on stress management as part of recovery, and refer patients to or provide effective complementary care.
Universities and Colleges
Holistic nurses teach students how to maintain whole-body wellness, advise students on how to reduce anxiety, and lead wellness coaching sessions.
Home Healthcare
Holistic nurses assist patients with adjusting to serious conditions, advise on types of nonpharmacological pain relief, and refer patients to spiritual, mental, or emotional care.

Why Become a Holistic Nurse?

Holistic nursing jobs can provide considerable satisfaction because holistic nursing addresses needs beyond a patient's physical conditions, and holistic nurses typically have knowledge of complementary or alternative treatments.

However, holistic nursing does have some drawbacks. For instance, insurance may not cover the additional time that a holistic consultation requires, and some caregivers are skeptical about the usefulness of holistic care. See below for additional pros and cons.

Advantages to Becoming a Holistic Nurse

Disadvantages to Becoming a Holistic Nurse