Functional Nutrition for Nurses Certification

This module guides nurses in understanding the differences between functional, integrative and conventional models of health care. By examining root-cause functional approaches alongside conventional symptom-based care, nurses gain clarity in their own healing approach. The benefit is a more confident, aligned practice that empowers you to integrate and blend holistic, integrative and functional approaches in your personal and professional practice

In this module, you’ll learn how to integrate the Conventional Nursing Process with Functional Nutrition—bridging evidence-based nursing frameworks with root-cause approaches to care. By applying this integration, you’ll gain clarity and confidence in creating safe, holistic, and patient-centered nutrition strategies that align with your scope of practice and elevate your impact as a nurse.

Learn how to safely and competently integrate functional nutrition into your nursing practice. This module highlights ethical boundaries, collaboration with functional providers, and practical strategies whether you’re in private practice, a hospital setting, or working within an organization—ensuring you protect your license while empowering patient care.

This module explores the biochemical foundations of macronutrient metabolism—carbohydrates, proteins, and fats—through both a classical and functional nutrition lens. Students will examine how the body generates, stores, and mobilizes energy by tracing key metabolic pathways. Clinical applications will highlight how nutritional biochemistry supports metabolism in stress, recovery, chronic illness, and preventive care.

This module explores the role of fats in the inflammatory processes. Some fats promote inflammation, while others help calm it. By understanding these biochemical roles, nurses can cut through the confusion around fats and gain clarity on how they impact metabolic health.

This module explores how hormonal rhythms shape energy, metabolism, and mood, and how they are tied to circadian biology. When circadian asynchrony occurs—through disrupted sleep, irregular meals, or modern demands—these rhythms misalign, affecting health in profound ways. The emerging field of chrononutrition invites us to consider how the timing of nutrition and lifestyle patterns may help realign the body’s innate clocks.

This module for holistic nurses explores the functional root causes of chronic illness, including oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and more. Learn to recognize symptoms, use assessment tools, and apply nutrition as a preventive and therapeutic strategy. Gain practical skills to assess imbalances and educate patients in restoring health and resilience.

This module explores the anatomy and physiology of digestion and how dysfunction impacts health. Nurses will learn how enzymes, motility, absorption, and the microbiome influence energy, mood, and chronic disease. With this foundation, nurses gain practical tools to educate patients on evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle strategies that promote optimal gastrointestinal function

Discover the 5R Protocol—Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, Repair, and Rebalance—as a systematic framework for gut healing. This module teaches nurses how to use and educate the framework for inflammation, dysbiosis, and other digestive dysfunction. Gain skills to support both patient health and your own self-care with this practical, evidence-informed approach.

This module takes a deeper dive into the gut–brain axis, circadian rhythm, microbiome balance, and immune tolerance. Nurses will learn how stress, toxins, and chronic inflammation drive gut dysfunction and autoimmunity, and how functional nutrition strategiescan restore balance. With a focus on the nursing role as educator and advocate, this course empowers you to apply interventions, improve resilience, and support long-term gastrointestinal health.

This introduction video guides nurses through the foundations of functional testing—understanding scope of practice, differentiating testing types, and connecting results to nursing diagnoses. Before exploring direct access testing or lab acquisition, this module helps nurses build confidence in ethical, collaborative, and holistic decision-making—bridging science with whole-person care.

Functional lab testing looks deeper than routine labs, revealing how the body functions before disease develops. It helps uncover root causes like gut imbalance, inflammation, or nutrient depletion. For nurses, these tests guide education—not diagnosis—by connecting physiology with lifestyle. Through collaboration and holistic insight, nurses help patients turn data into meaningful steps toward healing.

Discover how functional lab testing empowers nurses to identify root causes of gastrointestinal dysfunction. This course explores stool, organic acid, and permeability testing to assess digestion, inflammation, and microbiome health. Learn to integrate the 5R Protocol and scope-appropriate education to guide patients toward balance and resilience. Ideal for holistic nurses advancing functional nutrition expertise.

Explore how nurses apply functional nutrition principles using a clinical scenario. This course integrates the nursing process (ADPIE), functional testing, and the 5R Protocol to address gut health, inflammation, and stress-related imbalance. Gain practical tools to interpret root causes, create SMART goals, and educate patients within your holistic nursing scope. Ideal for nurses advancing integrative care expertise.

Integrating functional nutrition into the nursing process allows nurses to address both the biological and emotional root causes of mental health challenges. Through assessment, diagnosis, planning, and intervention, nurses identify imbalances in stress, sleep, nutrition, and inflammation—using tools like SMART goals and the 5R framework—to guide evidence-informed care that enhances mood, resilience, and overall well-being

Functional nutrition identifies key biological and lifestyle imbalances—oxidative stress, inflammation, gut-brain axis dysfunction, hormonal shifts, and nutrient deficiencies—that underlie mental health symptoms. By addressing these root causes through diet, lifestyle, and personalized care, nurses can help restore balance, resilience, and optimal brain function

Learn how holistic nurses can support mental health and well-being through evidence-informed nutrition education. This module explores the Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, highlighting their impact on inflammation, mood, and resilience. Nurses will gain confidence in discussing safe, scope-appropriate nutrition strategies and collaborating within interprofessional teams to promote whole-person healing.

Explore the connection between nutrition, mindfulness, and mental health through the 5R Framework—Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, Repair, and Rebalance. This module helps holistic nurses understand common use of supplements, gut-brain balance, and integrative strategies to safely support emotional well-being within nursing scope of practice.

Learn how nurses can support patients with hypertension through evidence-informed nutrition education and lifestyle guidance. This module explores the 5R Framework, cardiometabolic panels, and therapeutic diets such as DASH and Mediterranean—helping nurses understand how food, stress, and lifestyle influence blood pressure within the nursing scope of practice.

Learn how nurses can support patients with Diabetes through evidence-informed nutrition education and lifestyle guidance. This module explores the 5R Framework, cardiometabolic panels, and therapeutic diets such as Low Carbohydrate and Mediterranean—helping nurses understand how food, stress, and lifestyle influence blood glucose within the nursing scope of practice.

Explore the functional nutrition approach to hyperlipidemia through biochemistry, root-cause analysis, and the 5R Framework. This module guides nurses in applying the nursing process, interpreting functional tests, and using scope-appropriate education on therapeutic foods and nutraceuticals to support lipid balance, inflammation reduction, and cardiometabolic health.

Explore functional nutrition for women’s hormonal health through biochemistry, root-cause analysis, and the 5R Framework. Nurses will learn to assess PMS, PCOS, and menopause within scope of practice using functional tests and therapeutic nutrition to restore balance, support detoxification pathways, and optimize vitality across every stage of life.

Explore functional nutrition approaches to support men’s hormonal balance through the lens of biochemistry, thyroid health, and adrenal resilience. This module guides nurses in applying the 5R Framework and nursing process to assess testosterone, thyroid, and cortisol patterns, interpret functional tests, and provide scope-appropriate education using foods and nutraceuticals that restore energy, metabolism, and vitality.

Learn how to safely evaluate and educate patients on supplement use within nursing scope. This course guides holistic nurses in assessing supplement quality, efficacy, and safety using evidence-based criteria, label interpretation, and professional ethics to support informed, integrative care decisions.

Discover what defines functional foods and how they support wellness and chronic disease prevention. This module helps holistic nurses identify nutrient-dense, evidence-supported foods, understand their clinical benefits, and educate clients on integrating these into daily routines for optimal whole-person health.

This lesson highlights the importance of food quality over quantity for caloric balance, emphasizing the benefits of high-quality, low-calorie foods for metabolism and appetite. It also discusses the limitations of calorie counting for autoimmune diseases or diabetes and explores the health and environmental advantages of organic foods. Additionally, it covers nutrition basics, macronutrients, therapeutic diets, and optimizing nutrient intake.

Explore the foundations of functional foods through an integrative lens. This module compares major dietary patterns—including the Standard American, Mediterranean, Ketogenic, Low Carbohydrate, Paleo, Vegetarian, Vegan, Low FODMAP, Elemental, and Elimination diets—helping holistic nurses understand their evidence, biochemistry, and how to educate patients safely within nursing scope.

Learn how to assess and interpret diet diaries using the nursing process. This training helps nurses recognize nutritional patterns, support informed lifestyle choices, and promote wellness through education and collaboration—all within a holistic, patient-centered approach to care.

This lesson highlights the importance of food quality over quantity for caloric balance, emphasizing the benefits of high-quality, low-calorie foods for metabolism and appetite. It also discusses the limitations of calorie counting for autoimmune diseases or diabetes and explores the health and environmental advantages of organic foods. Additionally, it covers nutrition basics, macronutrients, therapeutic diets, and optimizing nutrient intake.

This lesson highlights the importance of food quality over quantity for caloric balance, emphasizing the benefits of high-quality, low-calorie foods for metabolism and appetite. It also discusses the limitations of calorie counting for autoimmune diseases or diabetes and explores the health and environmental advantages of organic foods. Additionally, it covers nutrition basics, macronutrients, therapeutic diets, and optimizing nutrient intake.

This lesson covers the root causes of hypertension, including aging, arterial stiffening, oxidative stress and diet. It explores secondary causes and addresses functional testing and therapeutic diets such as DASH, low sodium, and plant-based diets. The program discusses factors like renin dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, and cortisol dysregulation. Recommendations include high-micronutrient foods, stress management, supplementaaion nd avoiding processed foods, caffeine, and smoking.

In this lesson, we explore a comprehensive case study on diabetes, examining how functional nutrition strategies can effectively address the condition.

This lesson explores the underlying factors contributing to hypertension, emphasizing the role of lifestyle, nutrition, and stress management in blood pressure regulation. It highlights how a balanced diet, regular exercise, and targeted interventions can support cardiovascular health, while also stressing the importance of nutritional literacy and making informed lifestyle choices.

This case study delves into hypertension by examining a patient’s history, lifestyle, and clinical profile to uncover underlying factors contributing to elevated blood pressure. It explores the interplay of dietary habits, stress management, physical activity, and micronutrient imbalances.

This course on obesity covers contributing factors, functional testing, therapeutic diets, and supplementation. It addresses metabolism, energy balance, weight loss methods, and metabolic syndromes. Key strategies include balanced nutrition, exercise, supplements, and lifestyle changes like intermittent fasting. The course also explores metabolic flexibility, conventional weight management, and diets like low-carb, Mediterranean, and Paleo.

This case study weaves together the core themes from our first lesson by applying functional nutrition and supplementation strategies to address obesity. It integrates key concepts such as inflammation, blood sugar, cortisol dysregulation, and dietary influences with practical approaches including targeted nutrient interventions, therapeutic diets, and stress management techniques to support healthy metabolism and weight.

Explore how targeted nutritional strategies can influence chronic pain management. This lesson covers the impact of inflammation, gut health, and nutrient deficiencies on pain perception, and introduces dietary and lifestyle approaches that support systemic healing and pain reduction.

Dive into the practical application of functional nutrition in managing chronic pain. In this session, we review a concise case study that integrates key concepts—such as inflammation control and nutrient optimization—demonstrating how dietary interventions and lifestyle modifications can lead to improved pain management outcomes.

This lesson highlights the importance of food quality over quantity for caloric balance, emphasizing the benefits of high-quality, low-calorie foods for metabolism and appetite. It also discusses the limitations of calorie counting for autoimmune diseases or diabetes and explores the health and environmental advantages of organic foods. Additionally, it covers nutrition basics, macronutrients, therapeutic diets, and optimizing nutrient intake.

This lesson explores a case study that weaves together the core concepts of functional nutrition and practical strategies to address the root causes of insomnia, equipping you with actionable insights for better sleep.

Completion Instructions to claim your CE and Certificate

In this module, we will be comparing the different approaches to helping our clients: conventional, functional or integrative health. You will gain clarity in the different approaches to health and which philosophy resonates with you and your coaching practice.

This lesson focuses on understanding and managing chronic diseases through a functional approach. Key topics include oxidative stress, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and disruptions in gut health, mitochondrial function, and circadian rhythms. The course emphasizes the importance of clinical assessment, prevention, and personalized nutritional strategies to address the root causes of chronic health issues.

This lesson focuses on understanding and managing chronic diseases through a functional approach. Key topics include oxidative stress, inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and disruptions in gut health, mitochondrial function, and circadian rhythms. The course emphasizes the importance of clinical assessment, prevention, and personalized nutritional strategies to address the root causes of chronic health issues.

In this lesson,, we explore functional nutrition testing, covering its importance, ethical considerations, and scope of practice. You'll learn about various tests, including genetic, hormone, and nutrient testing, and the types of samples used, such as hair, urine, and saliva.

This lesson investigates depression through a multifaceted lens, examining the interplay of neurotransmitter imbalances, oxidative stress, inflammation, and nutritional factors. It delves into the biochemical and physiological underpinnings of depression, highlighting how deficiencies and imbalances in key neurotransmitters may trigger mood disturbances.

This lesson highlights the importance of food quality over quantity for caloric balance, emphasizing the benefits of high-quality, low-calorie foods for metabolism and appetite. It also discusses the limitations of calorie counting for autoimmune diseases or diabetes and explores the health and environmental advantages of organic foods. Additionally, it covers nutrition basics, macronutrients, therapeutic diets, and optimizing nutrient intake.

This lesson highlights the importance of food quality over quantity for caloric balance, emphasizing the benefits of high-quality, low-calorie foods for metabolism and appetite. It also discusses the limitations of calorie counting for autoimmune diseases or diabetes and explores the health and environmental advantages of organic foods. Additionally, it covers nutrition basics, macronutrients, therapeutic diets, and optimizing nutrient intake.

This case study weaves together the core themes from our first lesson by applying functional nutrition and supplementation strategies to address depression. It integrates key concepts such as inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, cortisol dysregulation, and dietary influences with practical approaches including targeted nutrient interventions, therapeutic diets, and stress management techniques to support mental health and emotional resilience.

This lesson highlights the importance of food quality over quantity for caloric balance, emphasizing the benefits of high-quality, low-calorie foods for metabolism and appetite. It also discusses the limitations of calorie counting for autoimmune diseases or diabetes and explores the health and environmental advantages of organic foods. Additionally, it covers nutrition basics, macronutrients, therapeutic diets, and optimizing nutrient intake.

This case study weaves together the core themes from our first lesson by applying functional nutrition and supplementation strategies to address anxiety. It integrates key concepts such as inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, cortisol dysregulation, and dietary influences with practical approaches including targeted nutrient interventions, therapeutic diets, and stress management techniques to support mental health and emotional resilience.

Join our live module designed for holistic nurses to confidently interpret functional test results. Learn how to review stool analysis, food sensitivity panels, and integrate findings through real-world case discussions. Build your clinical reasoning, connect lab data with patient care, and apply evidence-based, scope-appropriate recommendations in holistic nursing practice.