A holistic nurse is a licensed nurse who focuses on healing the whole person rather than treating a disease. A holistic nurse takes the patients mind, body, spirit, emotions and environment into consideration when practicing traditional nursing.
Table of Contents
How to Become a Holistic Nurse
Education Requirements
Holistic Nurse Job Description
Sample Job Description
Holistic Nursing on YouTube
Personality Traits
Career Options
National Salary Snapshot
Holistic Nurse Certification
Cost of Certification
Career Path
Professional Organizations
Relevant Publications
Related Careers
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not provide specific information for holistic nurses but the organization does offer an overview of registered nurses.
| Level of Education Required | Associate degree or Bachelor Degree in Nursing |
| Board Examinations needed | NCLEX-RN, RN-BC |
| Average Salary | $66,220 |
| # of Jobs (2012) | 2,712,000 |
| Job Outlook (2012 to 2022) | 19% growth |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov
How to become a holistic nurse
To become a holistic nurse, a candidate:
- Must have an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
- May pursue voluntary certification as a holistic nurse
- May pursue education and certification in acupuncture or massage
Education requirements
To become a holistic nurse, one must get an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
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Job description
The holistic nurse performs the same standard nursing care as other registered nurses, such as assessing a patient’s health, starting IV fluids, administering medication and taking medical histories. Holistic nurses also provide other health treatments and therapies to improve the patient’s overall health and well-being, such as acupuncture, stress management, hypnosis, hydrotherapy, massage, aromatherapy, wellness coaching and various Chinese and Eastern healing practices.
Sample job description
Sample job descriptions and qualifications are sourced from various job board websites, like these: careerbuilder.com, indeed.com.
- Provides alternative treatment and holistic medicine for cancer and other debilitating diseases
- Administers infusions under the direction of a physician
Qualifications:
- 2-3 years experience as a holistic nurse and a flexible schedule
Personality traits:
- Multi-faceted
- Structured
- Good interpersonal skills
- Independent
As with other registered nurses, holistic nurses report to nursing supervisors and sometimes physicians.
Holistic nursing on YouTube
Career options
A holistic nurse may work in a variety of settings, such as
- Integrated care departments in hospitals
- Patients’ homes
- Birthing Centers
Holistic nurses are already in high demand because they perform complementary and alternative therapies in addition to standard nursing care. Demand will likely grow as clinical practices incorporate an ever-widening scope of medical services to patients.
National salary snapshot
SimplyHired posts the average yearly pay at $45,000 for the position, while Indeed lists the salary of a holistic nurse as $58,000.
Certification information
American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC) offers various certifications for several levels of holistic nursing. AHNCC offers two Certifications in Basic Holistic Nursing: Holistic Nurse, Board Certified (HN-BC) and Holistic Baccalaureate Nurse, Board Certified (HNB-BC).
To earn an HN-BC, the candidate must possess an unrestricted and current license as a registered nurse and have graduated from a school of nursing accredited by AACN or the National League of Nursing (NLN). HN-BC requires a minimum of a diploma or associate degree. HNB-BC requires a minimum of a BSN.
A nurse interested in certification must have actively practiced as a holistic nurse full-time for at least one year or part-time working 2,000 hours or more within the previous five years. The candidate should have also completed at least 48 hours of continuing education in holistic nursing within two years preceding the application.
AHNCC offers two certifications in Advanced Holistic Nursing: Advanced Holistic Nurse, Board Certified (AHN-BC) and Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse, Board Certified (APHN-BC).
For the AHN-BC or APHN-BC certification, the candidate must have a current and unrestricted RN license and have graduated from an accredited school. Candidates must have worked actively as a holistic nurse for one year fulltime or 2,000 part-time along with at least 48 hours of continuing education in holistic nursing.
Cost of certification
Credential: HN-BC
Fees for Non-Members:
Initial Exam: $395
Recertification: $320
Fees for Members:
Initial Exam: $375
Typical career path
The typical career path to becoming a holistic nurse is to:
- Earn an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
- Work as a registered nurse, practicing holistic nursing fulltime for at least one year
- Complete continuing education in holistic nursing
Earn Board Certification (HN-BC) from the American Holistic Nurse Certification Corporation (AHNCC).
Professional organizations
American Holistic Nurses Association: http://www.ahna.org/
Relevant publications
Beginnings: AHNA’s Member Magazine
Related careers
Registered nurse – provides nursing care to patients in hospitals and residents in nursing homes