More Nurses Are Taking a Holistic Approach

October 16th, 2009

From acupuncture to Yoga, alternative medicines have been around for hundreds of years and many people still use it. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 38 percent of adults in the United States use some form of complementary and alternative medicine, which NCCAM defines as "a group of diverse medical and health care systems that are not considered part of conventional medicine." While conventional medicine is exactly what health professionals have always based their practice on, more and more nurses are choosing to take a holistic approach in the care of their patients and use integrative medicine that combines both conventional and alternative medicine.

Recognizing it as a growing specialization, the American Nurses Association granted holistic nursing specialty status in 2006. It is an approach to the practice of nursing which involves the idea that to treat a patient’s medical condition their physical, mental, emotional, and social conditions must also be taken into consideration. It operates on the idea that in order to reach an optimum level of health all areas of one’s life must be in balance. Holistic nurses combine their nursing knowledge and traditional medical treatments, with holistic theories and alternative therapies to care for patient’s physical, mental, and spiritual states. Complementary and alternative medicines often considered in clinical practice include acupuncture, massage, aroma therapy, biofeedback, osteopathic manipulation, diet, and nutrition. Holistic nurses also strive to have a unique relationship with their patients and are interested in bonding with them on a deeper level. This is because they believe that by creating a more personal and supportive environment they are able to give their patients more individualized attention and provide them with better care.

To support those interested in holistic nursing, the American Holistic Nurses’ Certification Corporation endorses holistic nursing programs at 13 schools and is the only national credentialing corporation that offers holistic nurse certification. Those with an RN license and at least a Baccalaureate degree in any field may be eligible to take the certification examination after completing 48 contact hours in holistic nursing theory, practice, research or ethics, within the last two years, and spending a year practicing full time in holistic nursing or at least 2000 hours in the last five years. The exam includes a quantitative part, which assesses ones knowledge and skills essential to the practice of holistic nursing, and a qualitative part, which assesses one’s ability to integrate holistic nursing concepts into their professional and personal lives.

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