How to Practice Holistic Nursing
Written by:
Wilson College Online
• Jul 15, 2026
Nurses provide a wide spectrum of care to patients that has a tremendous impact on their patients’ overall health and well-being. One approach to nursing care, known as holistic nursing, focuses on treating the whole patient, their mind, body, and spirit, rather than just the physical symptoms of their illness.
Although the nursing profession has long embraced holistic care principles, the American Nurses Association (ANA) didn’t recognize holistic nursing as a distinct specialty until 2006. Since then, interest in this approach to nursing care has risen, supported by growing evidence of its benefits. A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that applying holistic nursing practices in intensive care units (ICUs) was associated with lower rates of mortality and readmission, as well as improved collaboration among medical staff.
Building the skills and expertise required to practice holistic care involves a combination of formal education and clinical experience. Honing these skills can enable nurses to deliver more comprehensive, compassionate care to patients, wherever and however they practice.
What Is Holistic Nursing?
For nurses seeking to incorporate a holistic approach into their practice, it is crucial that they understand not only what holistic nursing is but also what it is not. At its core, holistic nursing involves providing comprehensive care that addresses a patient’s mental, emotional, and spiritual health, as well as their physical well-being.
In holistic nursing, nurses consider numerous factors when assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients, such as the patient’s living environment and relationships; their mental, emotional, and physical health; and their personal beliefs and priorities. They use these insights to provide care to the patient that treats their physical symptoms while also supporting their overall quality of life and sense of well-being.
The holistic nursing approach often combines the tools of traditional medicine, such as prescription medication and surgery, with complementary and alternative interventions that enhance healing. Examples of these interventions can include:
- Acupuncture
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Therapeutic massages
- Aromatherapy
- Herbal remedies
By working in conjunction with more conventional treatments, these methods can promote greater healing by helping to reduce patients’ stress and easing their discomfort.
4 Key Holistic Nursing Skills
To effectively practice holistic nursing, nurses need more than just clinical expertise. Holistically oriented nurses must be able to draw on their emotional intelligence, cultural understanding, and integrative therapy knowledge to treat the patient’s mind, body, and spirit.
- Empathy: Nurses who practice holistic nursing need to demonstrate deep compassion and cultural competence, respecting each patient’s unique values, beliefs, and experiences along with their health needs to foster trust and emotional safety.
- Communication: Through active listening and patient-centered dialogue, holistically focused nurses create space for open conversations with patients, helping them uncover their underlying concerns and strengthening the therapeutic relationship.
- Knowledge of complementary therapies: Applying a holistic approach to nursing requires an understanding of integrative treatments, such as mindfulness, meditation, and therapeutic touch, to be able to support patients’ healing alongside providing them with traditional medical care.
- Self-awareness: Nurses embracing a holistic mindset should also prioritize self-reflection and their own personal well-being. Practicing self-care, which is a core value of the approach, according to the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), enables nurses to remain centered and balanced, helping them show up more fully for their patients and deliver more effective care.
How Nurses Can Apply Holistic Nursing Practices
The principles of holistic nursing can be applied across virtually every type of healthcare setting and professional role: Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurse health coaches , and school nurses all can employ the holistic nursing approach in their nursing practice.
Depending on their work environment and responsibilities, nurses can integrate holistic care into their practice in a variety of ways, including the following.
Incorporate Mindfulness Into Patient Care
Nurses can use mindfulness techniques at the bedside to help patients manage their stress and anxiety. A nurse might guide a patient through a simple breathing exercise before a procedure or suggest images they can recall to minimize discomfort. These small moments of reflection can support patients’ healing and emotional calm.
Use Therapeutic Touch to Promote Comfort
Therapeutic touch can be a powerful tool in holistic care, and it doesn’t always require physical contact. Therapeutic touch also involves moving the hands a few inches above a patient’s body to help ease their anxiety and support their healing. Whether nurses employ gentle hand placement or noncontact techniques, they can use these gestures to communicate their presence, compassion, and calm to patients.
Therapeutic touch can soothe patients and strengthen the bond between nurses and patients.
Support Patients’ Cultural and Spiritual Needs
Respect for each patient’s cultural and spiritual background is central to holistic nursing care. Respecting patients’ dietary customs or accommodating their prayer routines, for example, are meaningful expressions of culturally competent care. By asking patients thoughtful questions and adapting their treatment plans accordingly, nurses can build trust with patients and provide them with care that honors each patient’s identity.
Delivering Patient-Centered Nursing Care
Holistic nursing is a patient-centered approach to nursing care that goes beyond treating physical symptoms and focuses on healing the whole person. By combining their clinical skills with empathy, cultural awareness, and complementary treatment strategies, nurses can deliver more meaningful, personalized care to patients.
If you’re a nurse looking to incorporate holistic principles into your practice, consider enrolling in the LPN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Wilson College Online. Designed with working nurses in mind, this flexible online program emphasizes holistic practices, preparing LPNs to expand their impact and unlock new professional opportunities.
Learn how Wilson College Online can help you take the next step in your nursing journey.
Recommended Readings
9 Essential Soft Skills for Nursing
5 Benefits of a BSN: What Nurses Should Know
How Long Does It Take to Become a Nurse Practitioner?
Sources:
American Holistic Nurses Association, What Is Holistic Nursing?
Healthline, “What Does a Holistic Doctor Do?”
Indeed, “How to Become a Holistic Nurse: A Complete Career Guide”
Integrative and Complementary Therapies, “The Expanding Field of Holistic Nursing—a Growing Trend”
Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, “A Brief History and Overview of Holistic Nursing”
IntelyCare, “Holistic Nursing: A Primer and FAQ”
