Holistic nurses, also known as integrative nurses, deliver care to the whole patient by addressing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual issues, along with symptoms of specific illnesses or medical conditions. Just like other nurses, they must secure a registered nurse (RN) or advanced nursing practice license to treat patients.
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To practice as a holistic nurse, each candidate must receive certification from the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC), which requires taking and passing an exam. Nurses reapply for recertification every five years by submitting proof they have completed at least 100 hours of continuing education.
Holistic nurses commonly serve in the roles of RN or nurse practitioner. Obtaining a license requires, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree. Many professionals seek master’s or doctoral degrees from integrative health nurse practitioner programs across the country.
Most integrative nurses join the American Holistic Nurses Association, which provides advocacy, education, research, and networking opportunities for professionals in the field.
The online family nurse practitioner program at CSU holds full approval from Georgia's nursing board and features a flexible format that enables students to earn their degrees while working. FNP students can satisfy their degree requirements within two years of full-time study, completing 44 semester hours of coursework.
Students enjoy access to an asynchronous format, which allows them to complete their course requirements at any time of day and from any location. Each applicant must hold a bachelor of science in nursing with a 3.0 minimum GPA, along with a current RN license. A candidate must provide a completed application, official transcripts, and three letters of recommendation.
ISU offers a master of science in nursing family nurse practitioner program that prepares learners for licensing and national certification after graduation. The online program
Online courses follow an asynchronous format, allowing degree-seekers to complete their coursework at their own pace and from any location. The program boasts an entirely online format, providing learners with the maximum amount of flexibility.
An applicant must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing with a 3.0 minimum GPA along with a current and active RN license. During the admission process, each candidate must provide a completed application, official undergraduate transcripts, three letters of recommendation, proof of CPR certification, a current resume, and a personal statement.
Nursing students at Clarkson College can pursue an online master of science in nursing (MSN) degree that features several concentrations, enabling them to tailor their degree to fit their interests and career goals. Enrollees can consider concentration opportunities in family nurse practitioner, adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner roles.
MSN students can explore advanced course topics covering concepts such as nursing law and ethics, application and evaluation of theory in nursing, and healthcare delivery systems and managed care.
Students interested in pursuing careers as nurse practitioners can enroll in MTSU's online master of science in nursing in family nurse practitioner. The FNP program features a rigorous curriculum that comprises 15 credit hours of core courses, ten hours of concentration courses, 17 credit hours of family nurse practitioner courses, and five credit hours of a practicum component.
During their coursework, students explore advanced health assessment, theoretical foundations of evidence-based practice, and advanced pharmacology. Each applicant must reside in Tennessee, hold a current RN license, and hold a bachelor's degree in nursing with a 3.0 minimum GPA. During the admission process, a learner must provide a completed application, official transcripts, a current resume, and three letters of recommendation.
The online master of science in nursing at CUW provides learners with the opportunity to tailor their degree to align with their interests and career goals, offering concentration areas in family nurse practitioner, primary care adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, and nurse educator.
MSN students complete their coursework online and participate in a two-week residency associated with the advanced health assessment course. The 39-41 credit program boasts affordable tuition rates of $740 per credit. During the rigorous curriculum, students focus on global perspectives in healthcare, healthcare policy, and pharmacotherapeutics.
Each applicant must hold a BSN degree from an accredited college or university, meeting the 3.0 minimum GPA requirement. Additionally, candidates must hold valid RN licenses, current employment in a practice, and CPR certification.
mental health nurse practitioner and rural family health nurse practitioner.
The MSN program accepts up to 12 transfer credits and boasts affordable tuition rates of $662 per credit. Enrollees must complete 46-47 credit hours of coursework, depending on their concentration. Throughout the rigorous curriculum, MSN students explore nursing research, leadership and management, and complex client care.
Each applicant must hold a bachelor of science in nursing degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 minimum GPA. During the admission process, a candidate must provide a complete application, official transcripts, professional references, a personal statement, and proof of current RN licensure.
Graceland University offers an online master of science in nursing degree with a family nurse practitioner (FNP) track. The FNP program focuses on disease prevention and health promotion for patients across the lifespan. In addition to the required coursework, the program requires 600 clinical hours that online learners can complete at approved locations in their communities.
As part of their specialized curriculum, FNP students focus on advanced health assessment and diagnostic reasoning, research methods and evidence-based practice, and pharmacotherapeutics.
Each applicant must hold a bachelor of science in nursing with a 3.0 minimum GPA, along with an active RN license. During the admission process, a candidate must submit a completed application, official transcripts, three references, and a personal statement.
SAU offers an online master of science in nursing nurse practitioner program with two track options, allowing learners to tailor their degrees to fit their interests and career goals. Enrollees can pursue a family nurse practitioner track to provide primary care for patients across the lifespan or an adult-gerontology primary care track to focus on caring for adult and elderly patients.
The unique program structure features seven-week course formats with a one-week break in between classes. By allowing learners to take one course at a time and enjoy the convenience of online learning, the program encourages and enables degree-seekers to continue working as they earn their degrees.
Each applicant should hold a BSN from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 minimum GPA, along with a current RN license. To gain admission, candidates must provide their official undergraduate transcripts.
SHU's online master of science in nursing family nurse practitioner program prepares learners to provide primary care for patients of all ages. During their program, degree-seekers develop the ability to diagnose injuries and diseases and provide treatment for common illnesses.
Graduates of the online program are qualified to sit for national certification examinations in their chosen patient population focus area. The program features an asynchronous structure, allowing students to complete their work at a pace that works best for them. This format provides learners with the flexibility to continue working throughout their program.
Each applicant must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing with a 3.2 minimum GPA, along with a current RN license and active liability insurance. Every candidate must undergo and pass a background check, provide official undergraduate transcripts and a completed application, and submit a resume, two letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose.
Degree-seekers interested in nurse practitioner (NP) careers can explore the online master of science in nursing program at UC, which offers concentrations in family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, women's health nurse practitioner, and nurse midwifery.
Additionally, students can also consider postmaster's NP programs focusing on family nurse practitioners or psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. MSN students examine advanced topics throughout their curriculum, including theoretical basis for clinical reasoning, advanced health assessment, and pharmacology for advanced nursing practice.
Each applicant must hold a bachelor of science in nursing degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 minimum GPA. A candidate should also hold at least one year of RN experience and an active RN license.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs has a graduate certificate in holistic nursing available that includes three classes for a total of nine classes. Students take Dynamics of Unity, Psychophysiology of Holistic Health and then can choose between Therapies of the Imagination or Therapies of the Human Energy Field. The school also offers several other graduate-level certificates.
Tennessee State University, in Nashville, also offers a master’s degree in nursing with the option to concentrate studies in holistic nursing. Three recommendations and a registered nurse (RN) license are among the requirements needed to apply. The program is 43 credits in length with 16 of these solely focused in holistic healing. Students complete 500 clinical hours and have the option to do six credits of a thesis or six credits of a project. A post-master’s certificate in holistic nursing is also offered. Online classes are available for students interested in distance learning.
Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, offers a 33-credit master’s degree program with a concentration in advanced holistic nursing. Students must have a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) , a least a 3.0 GPA, a completed undergraduate statistics course and meet other requirements to be eligible for admission. Online study is also available and clinical hours can be completed in a student’s geographic location. Students should be prepared to sit for board certification through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Center upon completion.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston offers several bachelor’s level nursing options, including a BSN, RN-to-BSN, and accelerated BSN that are endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation. Graduates of the BSN program should be prepared to apply a holistic and evidence-based approach to care while using a patient-centered model. Students are taught about safe and therapeutic approaches to be able to create high-quality patient outcomes. An honors BSN program is also available.
The Bronson School of Nursing through Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, is endorsed through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation for its 126-credit BSN offering. In the program, students complete seven credits of nursing therapeutics as well as take classes such as Concepts of Health and Wellness in Nursing Practice and Wellness and Health Promotion of Families.
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Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University, in St. Paul and Minneapolis, offers an RN-to-BSN program endorsed through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation. The program, also available at five community colleges, can be completed in two to three years and uses a holistic, integrative approach to providing healing and patient care. As part of their upper-level coursework, students learn about family and community health.
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Northern New Mexico College
Northern New Mexico College, with campuses in Espanola and El Rito, utilizes a nursing curriculum based on the theories of Dr. Barbara Dossey and that takes an approach focused on intentional, holistic care that is relationship-centered. Nurses in the program take courses such as Complementary and Alternative Theories in Nursing and Integral Nursing. This RN-to-BSN program has endorsement through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation.
Immaculata University in Immaculate, Pennsylvania, has an RN-to-BSN program that can be completed in the classroom or through distance learning. The program can be completed in two years and trains students how to implement a holistic perspective in their areas of professional practice and to treat others with dignity and to act with justice. Core nursing classes include Professional and Holistic Nursing, Holistic Care of the Chronically Ill and Holistic Health Assessment.
The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, in New York, gives students the opportunity to complete their bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) degree, emphasizing a holistic nursing framework. This RN-to-BSN program can take from 42 to 60 credits to complete and includes both classroom and clinical experiences. Students learn how to teach patients healthier self-care practices and to help individuals and families improve their overall well being.
The BSN program through Quinnipiac University, in Hamden, Connecticut, is also endorsed through the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation. Graduates are prepared to skillfully provide holistic care to individuals and families of all age groups and backgrounds as entry-level nurses. A holistic framework of learning is used throughout the program and students take courses such as Health Promotion and Wellness and Community and Public Health Nursing and complete two holistic nursing integration labs.
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Xavier University
Xavier University, in Cincinnati, Ohio, uses a holistic curriculum and integrative approach in nursing care to prepare students for a career in nursing through completion of a BSN degree. The program examines the bio-psychosocial and spiritual aspect of life through courses and clinical experiences. Students take eight credits in nursing therapeutics and complete four credits in nursing therapeutics practicums. The program has endorsement through the American Holistic Nurse’s Certification Corporation.
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Methodology
Programs included on this 15 Top Holistic Nursing Programs list have either received endorsement through the AHNCC, offer a program based on a holistic framework in terms of patient care and healing, or have courses or concentrations — particularly at the master’s degree level — specifically focused on holistic approaches. Some programs integrate holistic training through therapeutic practicum experiences.
You may find similar programs by searching terms like “integrative health and healing,” but results from any online search engine will reveal that there are few programs specifically focused on holistic healing or that have AHNCC endorsement. Many programs on this list have also received accreditation through either the American Association of Colleges of Nursing or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Many students prefer online nursing schools and programs, which offer learners considerably more flexibility and autonomy than traditional, on-campus programs. This list outlines some of the best online nursing programs.
Nursing is riddled with various roles, career paths, and backgrounds. There is no one way to become a nurse, and there are so many different kinds of these invaluable healthcare...
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