Frequently Asked Questions: Contact Hours & Program Requirements
At Nurses for Natural Health, we provide holistic nursing education programs approved for contact hours by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). Our courses include Acupressure, Functional Nutrition, Mindfulness & Mind-Body Medicine, Reiki, and Medicinal Teas for Wellness. Below you'll find answers to common questions about our contact hour programs and certifications.
General Questions About Our Programs & Contact Hours
Are Nurses for Natural Health programs approved for contact hours?
Yes. Select programs are approved for contact hours by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). Each holistic nursing program page lists the specific number of contact hours available.
Who can enroll in these holistic nursing programs?
Our programs are designed primarily for Registered Nurses and Licensed Professional Nurses. Some courses may also be appropriate for other licensed healthcare professionals.
Are courses offered online?
Yes. Most programs are delivered online with live and/or self-paced options to accommodate nursing schedules.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. Participants receive a certificate of completion after meeting all course requirements.
How many contact hours do I need as a holistic nurse?
It depends on which credential you mean. To sit for board certification through AHNCC (HN-BC, HNB-BC, AHN-BC, or APHN-BC), you need 60 hours of continuing education in holistic nursing theory, research, or practice, completed within the 3 years before you apply. Once certified, recertification every 5 years requires 100 continuing competency hours. Separately, your state board of nursing sets its own continuing education requirements to keep your RN license active — those vary by state, so check with your specific board for that number.
Acupressure Training for Nurses
What is an Acupressure Certificate for Nurses?
An Acupressure Certificate for Nurses is an AHNA-approved continuing education program that teaches Registered Nurses foundational acupressure theory and 12 core acupressure points to support pain relief, stress reduction, sleep, and emotional regulation — all within nursing scope of practice.
Is the Acupressure Training approved for contact hours?
Yes. The Acupressure Certification for Nurses is approved for contact hours by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA).
What will I learn in the Acupressure course?
You will learn foundational acupressure theory, 5 Element concepts, and practical acupressure points used to support stress reduction, pain relief, sleep support, and relaxation.
Can nurses use acupressure in clinical practice?
Yes. Nurses can integrate acupressure as a complementary, non-pharmacological intervention within scope of practice to support patient comfort and well-being.
Do I need prior holistic training?
No prior experience is required. The course is structured for beginner to intermediate nurses.
Functional Nutrition Certification for Nurses
What is a Functional Nutrition Certification for Nurses?
A Functional Nutrition Certification for Nurses is an AHNA-approved continuing education program that teaches nurses to apply functional nutrition science — including gut health, blood sugar regulation, and hormone balance — through the nursing process, so they can educate and coach patients within their professional scope.
Is the Functional Nutrition Certification approved for contact hours?
Yes. This Functional Nutrition Certification is approved for contact hours by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA).
What makes this functional nutrition program nurse-specific?
This certification integrates functional nutrition science with the nursing process, care planning, patient education, and scope-of-practice clarity.
What topics are covered in the Functional Nutrition program?
Topics include gut health, microbiome science, hormone balance, blood sugar regulation, functional laboratory interpretation, and case-based clinical application.
Can nurses apply functional nutrition education in their current role?
Yes. Nurses use this training to educate, coach, and support patients managing chronic conditions, fatigue, stress, and digestive concerns.
Mindfulness & Mind-Body Medicine for Nurses
What is a Mindfulness Certificate for Nurses?
A Mindfulness Certificate for Nurses is an AHNA-approved continuing education program teaching meditation, breathwork, and evidence-informed mind-body techniques nurses can use to manage patient anxiety, stress, and insomnia — while also supporting their own resilience against burnout.
Is the Mindfulness program approved for contact hours?
Yes. This Mindfulness Certificate is approved for contact hours by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA).
How does mindfulness training help prevent nurse burnout?
Mindfulness practices support nervous system regulation, improve focus, enhance emotional resilience, and promote professional sustainability in nursing.
What techniques are included?
The program includes breathwork, meditation, guided imagery, and evidence-informed mind-body interventions appropriate for nursing practice.
Can I complete this program while working full-time?
Yes. The course is structured to accommodate shift-based schedules.
Medicinal Teas for Wellness
What is Medicinal Teas for Wellness?
Medicinal Teas for Wellness is a continuing education course teaching nurses to safely use therapeutic herbs in tea form to support stress relief, digestion, immunity, and hormone balance, with attention to drug-herb interactions and safe patient education.
Is the Medicinal Teas for Wellness program approved for contact hours?
Please refer to the individual course page for current contact hour approval status through the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA).
Why should nurses study medicinal teas?
Many patients use teas as self-care. Nurses trained in herbal pharmacology can support safe use, identify potential interactions, and provide evidence-informed patient education.
What will I learn in this course?
You will learn about commonly used teas, potential drug-herb interactions, clinical safety considerations, sourcing, and ethical integration within nursing scope.
Is prescribing included in this training?
No. The course focuses on education and safety awareness. Nurses remain within professional scope of practice.
Reiki for Nurses
What is Reiki for Nurses?
Reiki for Nurses is an AHNA-approved continuing education program teaching a complementary, energy-based relaxation practice that nurses can use to support their own self-care and to enhance patient comfort, offered at both Level 1 (beginner) and Level 2.
Is the Reiki program approved for contact hours?
Yes. The Reiki for Nurses program is approved for contact hours by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA).
What is Reiki and how can nurses use it?
Reiki is a complementary energy-based practice used to promote relaxation and stress reduction. Nurses use Reiki to support self-care and patient comfort.
Do I need prior Reiki experience?
No. Reiki Level 1 is beginner-friendly and designed specifically for nurses.
Can Reiki be integrated into healthcare settings?
Many healthcare environments recognize Reiki as a complementary modality. This training focuses on safe, professional integration.
Yoga Certification for Nurses
What is Yoga Certification for Nurses?
Yoga Certification for Nurses is a pathway of AHNA-approved continuing education programs — Yoga Foundations, the Therapeutic Yoga Certificate, and 200-Hour Teacher Training — teaching restorative movement, breathwork, and nervous system regulation for both patient care and nurse self-care.
What are the different yoga certification levels?
Yoga Foundations (8 contact hours) is the entry point, covering applied yoga philosophy and practical self-care tools. The Therapeutic Yoga Certificate (22 contact hours) goes deeper into restorative poses and Yoga Nidra. The 200-Hour Teacher Training is a full RYT-200 credential through Yoga Alliance.
Are the yoga programs approved for contact hours?
Yoga Foundations and the Therapeutic Yoga Certificate are both approved for contact hours by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). The 200-Hour Teacher Training credential is approved separately through Yoga Alliance, not AHNA.
Do I need prior yoga experience?
No. Yoga Foundations is designed as an entry point with no prior yoga experience required, and each subsequent level builds on the last.
Herbal Medicine for Nurses
What is Herbal Medicine for Nurses?
Herbal Medicine for Nurses is a continuing education course teaching evidence-informed herbal principles and their practical application in integrative nursing care, including safety, dosing considerations, and patient education.
Is the Herbal Medicine course approved for contact hours?
Yes. This course is approved for 4 contact hours by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). Please refer to the individual course page for current approval details.
Do I need prior herbal medicine knowledge?
No prior experience is required. The course is designed to build foundational knowledge for nurses new to herbal medicine.
Integrative Nursing Certificate
What is the Integrative Nursing Certificate?
The Integrative Nursing Certificate is our upcoming flagship credential, bringing together nutrition, movement, breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, and lifestyle care into one comprehensive, on-demand program for nurses.
When does the Integrative Nursing Certificate launch?
Enrollment opens in January 2027. You can join the waitlist to be notified when it becomes available.
Will the Integrative Nursing Certificate be approved for contact hours?
Contact hour approval details will be confirmed and published on the course page closer to launch.
How many hours will the program include?
The certificate is planned as a 60-hour, entirely online and on-demand program.
Still Have Questions?
Explore our full catalog of AHNA-approved holistic nursing programs, or reach out directly.
Explore Our Programs