Holistic Certification Helpful or Harmful?

[nursingstudent317]

My BSN program has a very holistic theory/practice base. When we graduate we are eligible to get certified as a holistic nurse. I feel passionately about complementary medicine and what it has to offer but it will probably not be my primary focus as an RN. I wonder if getting the certification would look good/be good, or if it would cause people to discredit me. Any thoughts?

[KellNY, RN]

Why would people discredit you? And if they did-do you really want to work at a facility where management is so ignorant?

FTR-Holistic nursing is not inherently related to "complimentary medicine". It's about treating the whole person, not just the illness.

[nursingstudent317]

I know that holistic nursing isn't just about complimentary medicine. In fact, while our program is defined as being holistic in focus we learn nearly nothing about complimentary medicine. But it seems to me that the general population hears the term and mistakenly thinks a holistic approach is a "new age" thing. While I'd guess that most "new age" folks are interested in holistic health care, I know that holistic nursing isn't (in general) "new age."

Perhaps it is foolish of me to say that I am concerned about this to holistic health nurses.

Perhaps a better question is how do you feel you are seen by employers and patients/clients for having this credential? Do you believe it helps with some and hurts with others? Am I misunderstanding how the general public (not just progressive types) might perceive me? If I am I'd like to know. Thanks for responding.

[healingtouchRN]

This year the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center) recognized the HN-BC (Holistic Nurse-Board Certification). That says alot.

Holism is not New Age, it's actually nursing at it's antiquity. Read what Nightingale thought about taking care of the whole person. Look past her views on how a nurse should dress (this was the 19th century). Remember how she was an adminstrator of the finest, documenting the observations she made on the soldiers in Crimea. Look at her nursing theory. If one changes the environment that surrounds the client, then the nurse is placing the client in the best place for the body to it's own healing. We do not heal, the client does this. But the nurse (or doctor, therapist, etc) places the client in the best possible climate for this to occur. For example,

the client presents with a fracture of the radius. Very common. Would this person heal without the nurse or doctor. Yes, eventually. The body would repair it. This is what bodies do. Of course it may not heal well, or be as usable a limb as before. This is why the doctor sets the fracture, the ortho tech or Nurse applies the cast or splint, then the therapist teaches/performs ROM exercises to allow the break to heal in a better environment.

Be very proud you chose to attend a progressive school that models holistic care.

The school I attended did as well, & has kicked it up a notch (to borrow from Emeril's sayings) since this is what the client population desires & it is fiscally responsible.

:balloons: