What is Holistic Care in Nursing?
| 8 Min Read
Effective and compassionate health care starts with understanding the patient beyond their ailments or condition. Nurses who practice holistic nursing care can achieve better patient outcomes by treating the individual as a whole—not just their symptoms. Holistic nursing is an integrated way of thinking, reflecting and practicing that considers each aspect of a patient’s health throughout their treatment. Ultimately, a holistic approach helps nurses continue to be compassionate as they treat individuals and not just conditions. Many nurses think of holistic care as a way of life and as part of their professional identity, no matter which nursing career pathway they choose.
What is Holistic Care?
The word “holistic” was coined by a 1920s philosopher and was derived from the Greek spelling of “holos,” meaning “whole.”1 Originally referring to the wholeness of environments and ecosystems in the field of natural science, a holistic viewpoint was quickly adopted by other fields, including medicine.1 A holistic approach treats patients beyond their symptoms, because symptoms are just one part of a patients’ wellness. Other holistic elements besides the physical include environmental, mental and social wellness. Holistic nursing care takes each of these elements into account as nurses tend to their patients.
The History and Development of Holistic Nursing Care
In an article for the Journal of Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, author Robert Williams explained that Florence Nightingale is widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing, and her holistic perspectives changed the field for the better.2 One example is hospital design and infection prevention. Recognizing that the cleanliness of patients’ environments is crucial to their healing, Nightingale took strides to design hospitals and implement protocols that are still in effect today. She advocated for ventilation in hospitals, sanitizing equipment and disinfecting rooms between patients, among other improvements. These environmental considerations are part of holistic nursing care because they take a wider view of healing by considering environmental factors.
The role of nurses in society has continued to evolve to encompass the holistic side of medicine. Williams pointed to patient-centered care as a primary example. The concept of patient-centered care came out of the early 20th century, a philosophy that “emphasizes the importance of considering patients’ preferences, values and needs in their care.”2 With this holistic point of view, patients become partners in their care rather than subject to care. Nurses and researchers in the 21st century continue to identify more ways that patients can benefit from holistic care.
Holistic Nursing Core Values
According to the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), holistic nursing care is based on five core values from the Core Essentials for the Practice of Holistic Nursing:3
- Holistic Philosophy, Theories and Ethics
- Holistic Caring Process
- Holistic Communication, Therapeutic Healing Environment and Cultural Diversity
- Holistic Education and Research
- Holistic Nurse Self-Reflection and Self-Care
To summarize these core values, holistic nurses are mindful of the patient’s well-being in every aspect. This means being fully present and mindful, establishing caring relationships with patients, guiding and supporting patients in their choices of conventional and complementary care, communicating effectively, incorporating each patient’s environment and support system into their care, assisting patients in achieving harmony in their lives and practicing self-care.
Because holistic nursing care encompasses philosophy, ethics, education and reflection, the views and beliefs of a nurse are as important as their technical skills. Sacred Heart’s core curriculum and culture brings with it a teaching and perspective that goes beyond nursing as a profession, and into a human journey for both the nurse and the patient. Learn more about Sacred Heart University’s online accredited RN-BSN, accelerated RN-BSN-MSN and MSN.
Sacred Heart University is committed to educating nurses to ensure the best quality care physically, emotionally and spiritually for all their patients. From studying new procedures to learning about new medications, the nursing profession as a whole benefits from members who are devoted to their patients’ well-being and dedicated to improving health care through continued education.
Holistic Treatments
Holistic nursing treatments include a multitude of best practices that humanize patients and treat them with dignity. These include making eye contact, using their name, asking how they are feeling and teaching them how to take responsibility for their own care. Nurses can also help patients relax in stressful situations by reassuring them and explaining what is happening in terms that patients can understand.
The AHNA provided a list of additional practices as examples of holistic nursing care, including3
- Nutrition
- Exercise and movement
- Humor, laughter and play
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Some items on the list are more common than others, such as nutrition, exercise, movement and mindfulness. The AHNA also referenced energy therapies, expressive art, reflexology and practices of traditional indigenous healers, which are considered complementary and alternative medicine in nursing.3
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nursing
Complementary medicine refers to treatments that patients receive alongside traditional Western medical treatment, while alternative medicine means that patients receive these services in place of traditional treatments. More people are taking a holistic approach to their care by using complementary and alternative medicine. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reported that from 2002 to 2022, the use of complementary medicine increased by 17.5%.4 Many individuals seek complementary medicine to avoid harmful or undesirable side effects from medication and procedures. The growth in complementary and alternative medicine was driven primarily by the desire for non-opioid pain management.4
Addressing acute and chronic pain is just one way that complementary and alternative medicine can help patients. The Cleveland Clinic listed a variety of holistic care examples and their desired results, such as5
- Acupuncture, which uses very fine needles to encourage the release of endorphins.
- Cupping, which uses heated cups to direct blood flow to pain points.
- Massage, which targets pressure points and promotes relaxation.
- Music therapy, which encourages individuals to release emotions and promote desired behaviors.
- Reflexology, which applies pressure to points that affect certain organs.
As part of holistic care in nursing, nurses need to educate themselves about complementary medicine and ask individuals about all of their treatments. Nurses should also maintain awareness of current and emerging treatments that their patients may be using.
It is important to remember that holistic nursing is not a replacement for medicinal practice. Rather, it is an all-encompassing practice of integrating all aspects of the individual into the clinical treatment to enhance healing processes and create a healthier patient in body, mind and spirit.
Responsibilities of a Holistic Nurse
Holistic care in nursing comes with several responsibilities due to its wide scope. Everyone has different needs, so nurses need to be familiar with each facet of wellness, such as the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of their patients. Holistic nursing care can happen in several ways, according to Indeed.6
- Mental health: Understanding how mental health affects all other aspects of health and encouraging the pursuit of mental health through meditating, maintaining social connections and practicing creative pursuits.
- Emotional health: Developing emotional connections with patients and treating all patients with dignity regardless of their emotional state.
- Spiritual health: Learning about a patient’s religious and spiritual beliefs and customs, and helping the patient maintain their practices while in their care.
- Physical health: Helping patients heal and condition their physical bodies. This could include traditional western medicine and complementary and alternative medicine in nursing.
Nurses can learn about these facets of holistic wellness in nursing programs such as Sacred Heart University’s online accredited RN-BSN, accelerated RN-BSN-MSN and MSN.
How to Become a Holistic Nurse Practitioner
If you’re interested in becoming a holistic nurse practitioner, you’ll need the proper education and experience. According to Indeed, the recommended steps are to earn a nursing degree (preferably at least a BSN), acquire licensure as an RN, build holistic nursing experience and then secure advanced credentials such as certificates and a master’s degree.6 You can apply holistic nursing care to nearly any nursing career path, including nursing administration, education, leadership, management, practitioner and more. These are among the highest paying career paths for MSN graduates.
Discover a values-based, patient-centered education when enrolling in Sacred Heart’s accredited RN-BSN program. Sacred Heart also offers a condensed and accelerated RN-BSN-MSN program for those who want a faster path to obtain their master’s in the same program. Additionally, you can choose from five specializations at the MSN level: Clinical Nurse Leader, Family Nurse Practitioner, Nursing Education, Nursing Management & Executive Leadership and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Ranked among the 2025 Best National Universities by U.S. News & World Report, Sacred Heart provides a quality education with innovative courses and state-of-the-art methods.7 Plus, you’ll learn from nursing faculty with decades of combined experience. Call Sacred Heart University at 877-791-7181 to speak with an admissions adviser or request more information today.
Sources
- Merriam Webster. “‘Wholistic:’ A Natural Evolution Of ‘Holistic.’” Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/wholistic-word-origin-and-use.
- Williams, Robert. “The Evolution of Nursing: From Florence Nightingale to the Present Day.” Journal of Intensive and Critical Care Nursing. August 28, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/the-evolution-of-nursing-from-florence-nightingale-to-the-present-day-29981.html.
- The American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation. “Core Essentials for the Practice of Holistic Nursing.” Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.ahncc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2017-BASIC-HN-CORE-ESSENTIALS-Final.pdf.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. “Use of Complementary Health Approaches for Pain by U.S. Adults Increased From 2002 to 2022.” January 25, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/use-of-complementary-health-approaches-for-pain-by-us-adults-increased-from-2002-to-2022.
- Cleveland Clinic. “Complementary Medicine.” Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16883-complementary-therapy.
- Indeed. “What is Holistic Nursing?” January 28, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/holistic-nursing.
- U.S. News & World Report. Sacred Heart University Rankings. Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/sacred-heart-university-1403/overall-rankings.