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The American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC)
AHNCC advances holistic nursing and nurse coaching through certification. Holistic nurses and nurse coaches promote health, wellness, and wellbeing as they facilitate their client’s growth and healing. AHNCC certifications offer nurses a way to distinguish themselves as experts in nursing practice, education, and research. The examinations are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification [ABSNC] and are recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center [ANCC] Magnet Program. AHNCC Certifications are the only nationally accredited certification programs in Holistic Nursing and Nurse Coaching. Accreditation renewed fall of 2024.
How Well Do You Know AHNCC Click Here
PRESS RELEASE – April 30, 2025 – Holistic Nursing Organizations Support American Academy of Nursing Statement Regarding HHS Budget Proposal
Nursing Organizations Underscore Urgency of Supporting Investments in Health, Research, and Workforce
PRESS RELEASE – May 15, 2025 – Documentaries of Healing, Restoration, and Reconciliation dealing with addiction and recovery.
Called From Darkness – Nursing Organizations Support Transformational Documentary Series
Holistic nursing is defined as all nursing practice that provides care for the person as an integrated, holistic human being, inseparable and integral with the environment. Holistic practice draws on holistic nursing knowledge, theories, expertise, different ways of knowing, and intuition to guide nurses in becoming therapeutic partners with clients in a mutually evolving process toward healing and holism. Holistic Nursing is universal in nature and may be practiced in any clinical setting, community, private practice, hospital, educational institution, or research foundation; with the understanding that clients are the experts of their needs and care is always planned for and provided within the context of their culture, perceptions, values, and belief system.
Nurse Coaching is a skilled, purposeful, results-oriented, and structured relationship-centered, interaction-based role with clients based in the precepts of Holistic Nursing wherein clients are facilitated in achieving health-focused goals. Nurse Coaches are educated in advanced communication strategies, skills, and knowledge with the understanding that clientsare the experts of their needs and care is always planned for and provided within the context of their culture, perceptions, values, and belief system.
Check out our most recent pages and posts:
AHNCC 2025 Summer Newsletter – This newsletter contains pertinent information to help you on your holistic journey. Click here for all of our previous newsletter.
Holistic Nursing Fellowship and Nurse Coach Fellowship
We serve to strengthen the holistic nurse and nurse coaching role by broadening sociocultural awareness, in order to enhance our ability to provide optimal holistic care that is inclusive to all.
Certificants in Action (CiA) Blog – AHNCC shares information, awards and other timely and relevant updates.
A new diversity web page has been added to provide resources for
Embracing Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Justice for All
Conversation Corners (CC), a new initiative that the Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (EEDISJ) Committee has recently been implemented.
Video Library – Staff and noted professionals share their knowledge with you in our video vignettes.
Global Academy of Holistic Nursing (GAHN)
The Academy, in support of the American Holistic Nurses Association’s mission and in concert with the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation, focuses on advancing the Specialty of Holistic Nursing around the world. Click here to go to the GAHN home page.
PLEASE NOTE:
The AHNCC application and testing organization is Center for Nursing Education and Testing (C-NET). Handbooks, Practice Tests and Applications are available. To learn more about the certification process click here. To go directly to C-Net click here.
For COVID-19 Update and Resources, click here.
Why Get Certified? Overview – Click here.
To see video testimonials, visit our Video Library
AHNCC certification in holistic nursing and nurse coaching offers the following benefits:
- Validates competence and expertise
- Assures the public that competency standards have been met
- Receives institutional and collegial recognition
- Supports career advancement
- Enhances credibility with consumers, employers, and other stakeholders
- Facilitates lifelong learning for personal and professional growth
FAQs View PDF
Holistic Nursing Curriculum Guidelines
The Foundations, Competencies, and Curricular Guidelines for Basic to Doctoral Holistic Nursing Education, published October 15, 2017, can be found here. For further information, click here.
Helen L Erickson, PhD, RN, CNS, AHN-BC, FAAN, SGAHN – leading holistic nursing theorist and Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas at Austin. Helen has held administrative positions at The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, University of South Carolina, and The University of Texas at Austin (UTA). She has also maintained a private practice; served as an international clinical and educational consultant; authored, co-authored innumerable books, chapters, and articles on Holistic Nursing theory, practice, and research; and developed and tested the holistic theory, Modeling and Role-modeling. See the video below by Dr. Erickson on Holistic Certification:
