Heart and Soul Healers: What is a Holistic Nurse?

By Jennifer Marcenelle

We live in a strange culture, especially in how we approach our professional lives. Children are taught to set high expectations for themselves from an early age. As they grow, society applauds their perseverance, believing fulfillment and purpose stem from relentless dedication. Yet for millions—including myself—this strategy often produces the opposite effect.

My name is Jennifer Marcenelle, and I am the founder of Ann Arbor Holistic Living Support. After years as an ER/Critical Care nurse turned sales executive struggling with burnout, I discovered my true calling: transforming my career and becoming a holistic nurse, ultimately opening my private practice. This article explains how communities benefit from this perspective on collective and individual health, illustrated through my holistic healing journey.

Holistic Nursing and Its Evolving Role in Society

Holistic nursing is recognized as a specialty by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and requires rigorous academic coursework and mastery, just like any other nursing specialty. The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) defines holistic nursing as:

“All nursing practice that has healing the whole person as its goal,” focusing on **unity, wellness, and the interrelationship of human beings and their environment.”

A common misconception is that Board-Certified Holistic Nursing requires less academic rigor than traditional nursing certifications. In fact, the opposite is true. After a century of focus on Western medical approaches, new waves of thought emphasize holistic nursing as an advanced, highly respected nursing certification. Western institutions are increasingly recognizing that nursing and holistic healing are intrinsically connected.

To become a Board Certified Holistic Registered Nurse (HBN-BC), prerequisites include:

• An unrestricted and current U.S. registered nursing license

• 2,000 hours (1-year full-time) holistic nursing practice within the last five years

• 48 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics within two years of applying

• Graduation from a nationally accredited nursing program

Board Certification is renewed every five years, requiring:

• An unrestricted and current U.S. registered nursing license

• 100 CNE hours in Holistic Nursing Theory, Research, Practice, or related topics

• Ongoing competency activities such as conferences, presentations, curriculum development, publications, research projects, preceptorship, or professional committee membership

• Compliance with ethics, rules, standards, and procedures

Holistic nursing and energy healing are more than a profession—they are a way of life. Healing derives from the Old English word meaning “whole,” emphasizing the integration of physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual aspects of health and balance.

Historically, healers guided communities using natural remedies and spiritual wisdom. Over time, medicine shifted toward purely biological and chemical models, viewing the body as a network of atoms and molecules managed via pharmaceuticals and procedures.

Modern societies often fragment community and environment connections, replaced by technology and structured daily routines. This has contributed to global challenges such as environmental degradation and societal disconnection.

Holistic nurses, however, are working to reintegrate the spiritual and physical self, drawing from both Western and Eastern medical traditions to support comprehensive health.

My Journey as a Healer and Holistic Nurse

For many, careers signify more than financial stability; they are tied to purpose and societal value. When these feelings dissipate, burnout often follows—a condition with physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions that modern medicine alone cannot fully address.

I spent years as a cardiovascular critical care nurse and ER nurse, dedicating myself to saving lives. Yet, even amidst countless successes, I struggled with an overwhelming sense of emptiness. At 44, this burnout brought me close to taking my own life. In that moment, I experienced a remarkable out-of-body spiritual and quantum healing experience that clarified my purpose.

Burnout is often dismissed as not a “medical condition” but an “occupational phenomenon,” leaving sufferers feeling personally at fault. Holistic guidance is essential to untangle intrinsic motivations from societal pressures, providing relief from burnout, anxiety, depression, trauma, and PTSD—issues magnified by the recent global pandemic.

I have pursued certifications in multiple modalities to help individuals alleviate burnout and related mental and emotional stressors, integrating these approaches into my holistic practice.

Holistic Nursing as a Path Toward Enhanced Quality of Life

With over 35 years of experience in allopathic and alternative healthcare, my mission is to share the healing power within each individual. I am a published author, podcaster, media personality, and Board-Certified Holistic Registered Nurse, with certifications in energy healing modalities such as NLP, CBT, and EMDR. I am also a doctoral student in Integrative Medicine.

My practice, Ann Arbor Holistic Living Support, helps individuals, teams, and communities enhance physical and spiritual well-being through targeted programs and healing sessions addressing all dimensions of the self.

To learn more or schedule a consultation, visit my website today. I look forward to helping make your journey to wellness a little easier.

References

• Martin, J. et al. (2016). The Need to Respect Nature and Its Limits Challenges Society and Conservation Science. PNAS. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.152500311

• Petrovska, B. B. (2012). Historical Review of Medicinal Plants’ Usage. Pharmacognosy Reviews, 6(11), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95849

• Warber, S. L., Bruyere, R. L., Weintrub, K., & Dieppe, P. (2015). Perspectives of Healing Practitioners on Research Into Energy Healing. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 4(Suppl), 72–78. https://doi.org/10.7453/gahmj.2015.014.suppl

• Teachers College Columbia University. (2002). Suburban Kids Under More Pressure than Ever. https://www.tc.columbia.edu/articles/2002/october/suburban-kids-under-more-pressure-than-ever/

• World Health Organization. (2019). Burn-out an “Occupational Phenomenon”: International Classification of Diseases. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases

• American Holistic Nurses Association. What We Do. https://www.ahna.org/About-Us/What-is-Holistic-Nursing