35 Contact Hours · $1697 · Payment Plans Available · Online ·

Live starts October 11, 2025

Live sessions October 11, 18, 25 and November 1 at 8:00-10:00 am (ET)

As a holistic nurse, you understand that food is more than fuel—it’s information that can either support or disrupt healing. The Functional Nutrition for Nurses Certification is a transformative continuing education program designed specifically for RNs who want to use nutrition to educate, coach, and empower clients—all while staying grounded in the nursing process and scope of practice.

Why Enroll in This Functional Nutrition Program?

• Learn to Educate and Empower through Nutrition
  Gain tools to translate complex nutrition science into client-centered education, supporting informed decisions and lifestyle changes that align with each patient’s values and goals.

• Use Functional Nutrition Through the Lens of the Nursing Process
  Apply your skills in assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation to guide clients toward optimal well-being—without diagnosing or prescribing.

• Coach Clients to Identify and Address Root Contributors
  Learn to recognize patterns of dysfunction such as fatigue, blood sugar instability, or digestive concerns and guide clients using motivational interviewing, nutrition coaching, and holistic lifestyle strategies.

• Integrate Safely Within Scope of Practice
  This program emphasizes education, referral, and collaborative care, equipping you with language and strategies to work ethically and legally within your nursing role.

• Earn 35 Continuing Nursing Education Hours
  This course provides 35 contact hours, approved by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) and accredited to award contact hours by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)—enhancing your professional qualifications in holistic and integrative care.

What You’ll Learn:

This comprehensive course weaves together evidence-based functional nutrition, nursing theory, and practical application. You’ll complete self-paced learning modules and join live clinical integration sessions to apply knowledge through case studies and care planning.

Module 1: Foundations of Functional Nutrition (2 hrs)

• Functional vs. Conventional Models

• The Nursing Process in Nutrition

• Scope of Practice, Ethics, and Legal Boundaries

Module 2: Functional Biochemistry & Root-Cause Pathways (5 hrs)

• Key Biochemical Pathways & Nutrient Roles

• Inflammation, Methylation, Mitochondria, Environmental Stressors

• Applying These Concepts to Coaching & Care Planning

Module 3: Functional GI System & Microbiome (3 hrs)

• Digestive Function, Gut Integrity, and Microbiome Balance

• The 5R Protocol and Personalized Gut Support

• Strategies for Educating Clients on Gut-Health Linkages

Live Integration Session 1 (2 hrs)

• Case Study: Developing Client-Centered Plans Using Functional GI Concepts

• Review of Nursing Diagnoses Related to Nutrition & GI Concerns

Module 4: Functional Testing & GI Lab Interpretation (4 hrs)

• Understanding Stool Test Markers (GI-MAP, GI Effects, etc.)

• Using Results as a Tool for Collaboration & Referral

• Framing Lab Discussions in Coaching, Not Diagnosis

Module 5: Gut-Brain Axis & Mental Health Nutrition (2 hrs)

• Neuroinflammation, Microbiome and Emotional Wellness

• Nutrition for ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety, Depression

Module 6: Blood Sugar, Stress & CGM (3 hrs)

• Blood Sugar Patterns, CGM Interpretation & Lifestyle Coaching

• Insulin Resistance, Cortisol, Glycemic Variability

• Cardiometabolic Education and Client Empowerment

Live Integration Session 2 (2 hrs)

• Case Study: Coaching Clients with Fatigue, Insulin Resistance, and Anxiety

• Identifying Nursing Diagnoses and Outcomes

Module 7: Hormonal Health & Gut-Gonadal Axis (3 hrs)

• Estrogen Detox, PCOS, Thyroid, Adrenal Fatigue

• Functional Hormone Lab Overview for Referral Understanding

• Client-Centered Strategies for Hormonal Balance

Module 8: Therapeutic Diets & Clinical Application (3 hrs)

• Anti-inflammatory, Elimination, Mediterranean, Ketogenic

• Vegetarian, Paleo, Intermittent Fasting

• Tailoring Nutrition Plans to Client Readiness and Preference

Module 9: Functional Foods, Supplements & Detox (2 hrs)

• Foundational Supplement Safety & Red Flags

• Whole Foods for Detox Pathways

• Scope-appropriate Coaching for Food-Based Healing

Module 10: The Functional Kitchen (2 hrs)

• Teaching Clients Meal Prep, Food Literacy & Grocery Skills

• Simple, Evidence-Based Nutrition Planning Nurses Can Share

Module 11: Clinical Integration & Business Building (2 hrs)

• Conducting Nutrition Consults Using Coaching Frameworks

• Creating a Compliant Holistic Practice

• Case Reviews and Tools for Professional Success

Disclosures:

To successfully complete this course and receive 35 contact hours, participants must:

• Attend 90% of the live online sessions and/or view 100% the enduring recordings

• successful completion of post-test with a score 80% or higher

• Submission of 7 integrative care plans and identify 1 root cause for each: Diabetes, Hypertension, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Obesity and Chronic Pain

Course taught by Dr. Vanessa Ruiz, ND, RN-BSN and is online course.

After registration, participants will receive an educational portal to access modules online.

No one with the ability to control content of this activity has a relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with an ineligible company.

Expires XX/XX/XXX

This activity has been submitted to the American Holistic Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. The American Holistic Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. AHNA #_______

Approval for contact hours through the American Holistic Nurses Association is based on an assessment of the educational merit of this program and does not constitute endorsement of the use of any specific modality in the care of clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?
RNs seeking to integrate functional nutrition, coaching, and lifestyle education into their holistic practice—without stepping outside their legal nursing role.

Do I need experience in nutrition?
No prior experience is required. You’ll learn foundational through advanced strategies in a supportive, nurse-centered environment.

Can I work full-time while enrolled?
Yes! Modules are self-paced, and live sessions are held conveniently on Saturday mornings.

How is this different from other nutrition courses?
This course is created by a nurse, for nurses, blending evidence-based functional nutrition with the nursing process, coaching language, and scope of practice alignment.

Will I be diagnosing or prescribing, treating diseases?
No. This course trains you to educate, coach, and collaborate, empowering your clients and guiding them through safe, ethical nutritional frameworks that respect licensure boundaries.