How to become a Holistic NP

[michelle4SN]

Ok, so I'm graduating this December with my BSN (YAY!) and will take my NCLEX to become a liscenced RN and have begun to seriously consider advancing my degree to become a Nurse Practitioner. I'm very interested in holistic health, and I'm really not interested in working in a hospital. I'd essentially like to have my own practice that focuses on holistic health (along with some Western medicine aspects of course).

I know there are continuing education courses that you can take in Holistic Nursing to become certified. Does this just mean I'll have an MSN degree? Then would have to get my NP license separately?

If that's the case, what do I do first? NP or the MSN??

I've tried doing research, but the information is really confusing to me. The only helpful thing i've read is this;

"Students will earn a MSN degree and are eligible to sit for Board Certification in Advanced Holistic Nursing (AHN-BC). The Advanced Holistic Nursing Concentration does not prepare students to enter a Nurse Practitioner role."

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Let me google that for you

[Lisa.fnp]

When you attain your nurse practitioner status you will have your Masters of science in nursing. To get a MSN first without a NP such as ACNP, FNP your MSN would be in something like education or hospital administration. This does not make you a care provider, you can't give holistic advise and thus I don't see how you would qualified to be certified to give holistic nursing advice and care. You then still would have to do a 2 year program for you NP. Go the family route and get your MSN-FNP.

The route you should do after passing NCLEX's, is work in a hospital preferably in the ICU. You will develop your critical assessment experience, and really how effective would you be giving holistic advice. I went to a University and they wouldn't take you into their program without hospital critical care experience. I worked full time in a Trauma one ICU while in school. It sounds like you have great goals I hope you see it through. Do the work for you will be a better care provider for it.