[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-grid columns-md=”3″ gap=”md”] [hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-center”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]How Long to Become[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-link href=”#degree-roadmap”]2-4 years[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-center”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Job Outlook[/hen-ui-text]5% growth from 2024-2034[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-card variant=”background-white” border=”stroke” padding=”lg”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ class=”text-center”][hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]Annual Salary[/hen-ui-text]$93,600[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][/hen-ui-grid][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Holistic Nurse Career in Brief[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/careers/public-health-nurse//how-to-become/”]Holistic nursing[/hen-ui-link] systematically approaches health as the interrelation of physical, mental, emotional/psychological, spiritual, and environmental components to treat patients at each of these levels.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Holistic nursing jobs usually include these responsibilities:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where Do Holistic Nurses Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7219452/” target=”_blank”]majority of holistic nurses[/hen-ui-link] work in acute care hospitals (35%), universities and colleges (20%), and private practices (20%). The following lists duties in common job settings and home healthcare where 10% of holistic nurses work.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Holistic nurses provide nonpharmacological [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/pain-management/”] pain management[/hen-ui-link], educate patients on stress management as part of recovery, and refer patients to or provide effective complementary care.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Universities and Colleges[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Holistic nurses teach students how to maintain whole-body wellness, advise students on how to reduce anxiety, and lead wellness coaching sessions.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Home Healthcare[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Holistic nurses assist patients with adjusting to serious conditions, advise on types of nonpharmacological pain relief, and refer patients to spiritual, mental, or emotional care.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Holistic Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Holistic nursing jobs can provide considerable satisfaction because holistic nursing addresses needs beyond a patient’s physical conditions, and holistic nurses typically have knowledge of complementary or alternative treatments.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]However, holistic nursing does have some drawbacks. For instance, insurance may not cover the additional time that a holistic consultation requires, and some caregivers are skeptical about the usefulness of holistic care. See below for additional pros and cons.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Holistic Nurse[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/adn/”]An ADN[/hen-ui-link] takes two years to complete, while [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/bsn/”]a BSN[/hen-ui-link] requires four years. However, many jobs, especially higher-level positions, require the BSN.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Pass the NCLEX-RN to receive registered nurse (RN) licensure[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This exam, which takes approximately six hours, [hen-ui-link href=”/resources/nclex/guide/”]covers all[/hen-ui-link] aspects of nursing, including nursing practice, conditions and their treatment, communications, the healthcare infrastructure, and legal/ethical issues.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Gain bedside nursing experience[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While any nurse can adopt holistic practices, certification requires nursing experience. Many holistic nurses study complementary health and wellness approaches, such as massage, meditation, or wellness coaching.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Consider earning Holistic Nursing Certification[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This certification [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ahncc.org/” target=”_blank”]requires at least[/hen-ui-link] one year (full time) or 2,000 hours (part time) holistic nursing experience over five years, with at least 48 hours of continuing nursing education within two years. The American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation offers four types of certification depending on education level.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Holistic Nurses Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Based on general RN salary data, the median annual holistic nurse salary is $93,600, while the median annual salary for all occupations is $49,500, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As with all nurse salaries, [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/holistic-nursing/” target=”_blank”]holistic nurse salaries[/hen-ui-link] vary by location, BSN status, and experience.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The BLS projects RN jobs to grow by 5% between 2024 and 2034, faster than the U.S. average. While there is no specific data on growth for holistic nursing jobs, it seems likely that with ongoing interest in complementary medicine and ongoing research into effective complementary practices, demand for holistic nurses could keep pace with or exceed growth among all categories of RNs.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-article-card title=”Find State-Specific RN Salary Data” href=”/registered-nursing/” size=”compact” border=”stroke”][/hen-ui-article-card][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Holistic Nurses[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ahna.org/” target=”_blank”] American Holistic Nurses Association[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The American Holistic Nurses Association offers continuing education, an annual conference, publications, and online networking and discussion; creates self-care resources for holistic nurses; and publishes the scope and standards of holistic nursing practice. Membership is open to holistic healthcare professionals of any kind, not just holistic nurses.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://journals.sagepub.com/home/jhn” target=”_blank”] Journal of Holistic Nursing[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The Journal of Holistic Nursing, which started publication in 1983, is a peer-reviewed quarterly journal from Sage Publishing, one of the larger academic publishers. It supports both traditional and emerging approaches to scholarship. Each issue includes opportunities to earn continuing education credits.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-traditional-and-complementary-medicine/” target=”_blank”] Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that covers traditional medicine, herbal medicine, dietary therapy, and the history and cultural context of traditional medicine. It has been accepted by the Joint Commission of Taiwan for evaluation of its teaching hospitals.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nln.org/” target=”_blank”] National League for Nursing[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The National League for Nursing serves nurse educators with professional development opportunities; offers recognition and awards programs; certifies nursing education programs and nurse educators; engages in advocacy; and creates teaching resources. There are membership categories for nurse educators, schools of nursing, and associate members.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What does a holistic nurse do?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A holistic nurse provides care for patients across all dimensions of wellness, including mental, emotional, environmental, and spiritual health. Holistic nursing care may include complementary and alternative healthcare, such as aromatherapy, breathwork, or mind-body practices.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What does it mean to be a holistic nurse?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A holistic nurse is one who sees health and wellness as much more than the absence of physical illness or injury and who provides care to address all aspects of health. Holistic nursing may include approaches outside contemporary Western practice, such as traditional Eastern approaches to wellness.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What are the five core values of holistic nursing?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”https://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Volume62001/No2May01/HolisticNursingPractice.aspx” target=”_blank”]five core[/hen-ui-link] values of holistic nursing include holistic philosophy, theory, and ethics; the holistic caring process; holistic communication, therapeutic environment, and [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//cultural-competence-in-nursing/”]cultural diversity[/hen-ui-link]; holistic education and research; and holistic nurse self-care.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How do I become a certified holistic nurse?”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A certified holistic nurse requires a current, unencumbered nursing license, at least one year (full time) or 2,000 hours (part time) experience as a holistic nurse, at least 48 hours of continuing nursing education, and passing the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation certification examination.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion]