Dr. Laurie Martinez

By Vanessa Orr

This spring, Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing will launch an Advanced Holistic Practice and Nurse Coach Certificate. The program, which is designed for registered nurses (RNs) with a BSN or higher who are looking to enhance their practice with a holistic lens and nurse coaching skillset, is also ideal for advanced practice nurses, educators, and leaders seeking to incorporate integrative approaches into their professional roles.

“The College of Nursing developed this program in response to growing demand from nurses seeking to provide more person-centered, whole-person care,” explained Program Coordinator Laurie Martinez, PhD, MBA, MSN, RN, AHC-BC, WHNC-BC. “The national conversation around well-being, burnout, and integrative health—especially since the pandemic—has catalyzed a shift toward holistic models that acknowledge the body-mind-spirit connection.

“This program supports nurses in expanding their scope of practice using evidence-informed holistic modalities and nurse coaching competencies,” she added. “It also meets professional demands for advanced training in caring science, health promotion, and lifestyle behavior change.”

According to Dr. Martinez, there has been a significant uptick in interest for holistic care among both patients and healthcare professionals. She credits this to increasing awareness of the mind-body connection; rising rates of burnout and moral distress among nurses; a cultural shift toward prevention, wellness, and lifestyle medicine; and consumer demand for care that treats the “whole person,” and not just symptoms.

“Holistic care fosters deeper healing by honoring the individual’s physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and social needs,” she said. “Patients feel seen, heard, and empowered—leading to improved outcomes, better self-management, and greater satisfaction with care. Nurse coaching, in particular, enhances patient engagement by facilitating clients with goal setting and making individualized, meaningful lifestyle changes.”

The 12-credit, online program consists of four graduate-level courses that include Advanced Caring Science, Foundations of Holistic Nursing I & II, a clinical practicum integrating holistic health and wellness, and nurse coaching. Students learn to integrate mind-body techniques, energy-based healing, therapeutic presence, deep listening, motivational interviewing, and goal setting to support clients’ whole-person health.

Students will be introduced to a wide array of evidence-informed modalities, such as mind-body practices (e.g., guided imagery, breathwork, meditation, yoga, journaling/reflective writing, biofeedback, somatic experiencing), manipulative therapies (e.g., massage, body awareness, reflexology, myofascial release), energy-based healing (e.g., Reiki, therapeutic touch, healing touch, chakra balancing, sound healing/vibrational therapy, crystal healing), integrative coaching tools (e.g., motivational interviewing, goal-setting strategies, strengths-based coaching, appreciative inquiry, wheel of life/wellness mapping, readiness for change assessment) and relational caring presence (e.g., therapeutic use of self, relational healing, caring presence, reflective dialogue, conscious communication, mindful communication, holding space).

“There is a plethora of holistic healing modalities, many of which require specialized training and certification,” says Dr. Martinez. “Select modalities may resonate with some students, while others may not. As such, this certificate program offers an overview of various holistic healing practices with the intent to raise awareness and provide foundational education so that students can explore and pursue further training in modalities that resonate with them both personally and professionally.”

Dr. Martinez adds that the practicum is a vital component of the program as well. “The practicum allows students to apply holistic and coaching knowledge in a clinical setting, ideally one aligned with their interests,” she said. Practicum sites and preceptors are selected in collaboration with faculty, and students may complete hours at their current place of employment if appropriate.

Graduates earn a graduate certificate in Advanced Holistic Practice and Nurse Coaching and become eligible to sit for AHNCC board certification exams in both Holistic Nursing and Nurse Coaching. Applications are currently open, and the deadline for Spring 2026 is Nov. 15, 2025.

For more information, call (561) 297-4064 or visit www.fau.edu/nursing.