Holsitic Nursing Question

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How does one become a holistic nurse? Are there holistic nursing schools?

Thanks?

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I have been doing some research myself, seems like there is but it is a new specialty and one that is at the master's level. But you still could take classes on things that interest you like Healing Touch or Reflexology (as an example). I am currently in acupuncture school, and thinking of taking the ADN route right after. A lot of your nursing courses would also transfer over and knock out a lot of the core requirements for western training that is part of Homeopathy and Acupuncture (just an FYI) so your certifications would take less time than most people like me who did it backwards. Hope that helps :)

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Specializes in Psych, ER, OB, M/S, teaching, FNP.

Kimster614,

Would you mind sharing what you have found at the master's level? I am looking into advancing my degree (FNP and soon psych NP) to include more holistic and integrative medicine. What programs have you found?

Thanks................

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I just typed in Holistic nursing programs into google and found that most programs with this concentration were only at the master's level like:

http://www.tnstate.edu/interior.asp?mid=1408

http://www.nycollege.edu/academics/holistic_nursing.php

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Kimster614,

Would you mind sharing what you have found at the master's level? I am looking into advancing my degree (FNP and soon psych NP) to include more holistic and integrative medicine. What programs have you found?

Thanks................

I enrolled with National Natural Health Institute. They have a Natural Health BS program that is affordable and a great loan process. They are accredited through GQA. The admit terms are strict but any qualified LPN or RN has no problem with admissions.

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I was just reading this post... I'm actually taking a different appraoch to integrative medicine including nursing. Its not what I planned, but I'm really excited to how it may be turning out.

I have a bachelors in Exercise Science and am currently working on a Masters in Human Nutrition from a biochemical-integrative stand point with medicine. I then plan to complete a bsn/msn program (and if my professors get the best of me and actually talk me into it a doctorate program). For me integrative medicine is taking all areas of medicine together to combine to ge the best result. Not only with a FNP allow me to have a modern medicine approach, but due to my other degrees thankfully I understand exercise, nutrition, and botanicals to help each individual develop hopefully the best treatment plan for themselves. Its a long road I'm on, but definitely something I am loving! I learn so much about how things interact and connect and need to be connected and I really do believe it is where medicine is headed :-).

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I'm working on an RN, but the second I have it I will expand an quiet existing non-commercial TCM practice into something larger. It's simply amazing how much a nursing license will let you do!

It looks like you need 1 year post RN and a Bachelor's to get the HN-BC credential though.

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I was just at the AHNCC site. It's not only one year post-BSN, it's one year working as a holistic nurse or 2000 hours within the last five years. I'd like to know how difficult it is to get a position as a holistic nurse?

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Specializes in Holistic and Aesthetic Medicine.

Willitblend,

I got your private message but couldn't respond with a free account. I tried to upgrade but couldn't remember my paypal password. I'll upgrade after paypal gets around to sending me my password in the next 10 days.

Anyway, in answer to your question, I know of two nurses in Northeast TN that were forced to go to massage school. One paid a rather large fine to the massage board. The other stopped practicing massage and went to massage school.

As for proposed changes in naturopathy rules, here's a link http://www.aad.org/gov/Policies/documents/2009TNH723_scopeofpractice-naturopathicmedicine.pdf

As to motivation, here's a news video http://www.wsmv.com/news/13361927/detail.html

The problem is that there have been so few people who could legally give advice regarding herbs. Most of the people in my area who get such advice get it from a clerk at the healthfood store. Some of that advice is great. Sometimes it's not. There are very few AHG certified herbalists in our state. They could be regulated out of business by this law. The proposed law does specify that NDs must graduate from one of the four year accredited naturopathic schools such as Bastyr, Southwest College of Naturopathic medicine, etc... This requirement helps to weed out some of the people who are undertrained and regulates a field that in this state has no real regulation.

In addition to being a nursing student, I teach basics of nutrition and herbal medicine to pharmacy students and residents in our local program. I wrote a chapter of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Secrets. I am also an herbalist in the Maya and German Folkloric traditions and a licensed massage therapist. Feel free to contact me on facebook or drop me an email at sethmctenn at aol

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Specializes in Holistic and Aesthetic Medicine.

I forgot to sign my post...how rude :-)

Seth McLaughlin

Johnson City, TN

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Seth,

I'll email you shortly. I hope the naturopaths get the bill into an acceptable format. That would be a very good thing for the CAM community.

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I graduated from Viterbo University in Wisconsin which is a private catholic college.....they teach about holistic nursing right from the start and continue it through each rotation.....it amazes me that more schools do not include this in their teachings......guess I am one of the lucky few that had that integrated into my education......

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