Advance Practice Nurses Pilot NIWH Whole Health Educator Program

March 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Wellesley, MA — The National Institute of Whole Health (http://www.niwh.org), pioneers of Whole Health Education® and Whole Person Health Care™, today announced that a team of advanced practice nurses have selected the National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH) to fill a void in their existing patient care. The group, who works at Hermitage Farm Center for Healing, Inc.in Rochester, MN, a provider of integrated complementary healing therapies, and also work at Mayo Clinic Rochester, recently began NIWH’s online Whole Health Education program to provide them with the education and skills needed to coach their clients into a more healthful lifestyle.

“Everyone on our team has been a nurse for over 25 years,” said Lisa Van Getson, founder of Hermitage Farm and a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Mayo Clinic. “When we look at illness we don’t exclude spirituality so in that way we wanted to focus on the whole person, which is why NIWH was the ideal fit for us. This program has deepened what we already know and has helped us to learn about the aspects of health we don’t, such as nutrition coaching. It has created a lot of passion in us about how we can talk to our patients about things like supplements.”

Van Getson created Hermitage Farm in 2009 to provide a well-rounded set of spiritually-based complementary therapies in one setting, such as Reiki, Energy Medicine, Homeopathy, Hypnosis, Aromatherapy and Meditation that help individuals of all ages to create inner peace in their lives. The 5-acre facility housed in a historic farm house and barn also offers weekly events and workshops on various topics.

“At the core of Hermitage Farm is providing services that will empower people to heal themselves, said Van Getson. “Through learning about things like mindfulness and active listening from NIWH, we are able to deepen how we are with our clients at Hermitage Farm.”

NIWH courses are delivered through a relationship-centered, whole-person health focused curriculum and are designed to empower the learner and their clients with demystified health information to take greater control over their health and wellbeing. In addition, all courses are video-based and streamed online from anywhere in the world.

“We are excited about our partnership with Hermitage Farm and this amazing group of nurses,” said Paul Bergeron, MD, CPE, Director of Pilot Programs for NIWH. “The work they are doing is incredibly inspiring and we look forward to deepening our relationship with them in the years to come.”

The coaching program is first being piloted with 12 patients at Hermitage Farm and, following a successful pilot, will be rolled out to all of their clientele.  

About the National Institute of Whole Health
Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Wellesley, MA, the National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH) offers the most respected and credentialed integrative, whole health certification programs in the US. NIWH’s offerings include the Norman Cousins Award nominated Best Practice Whole Health Education certification program. The Whole Health Educator program for Nurses, endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association along with the Whole Health Nutrition Educator certification program and Whole Health Coaching certification program, can be completed via on-line distance learning. Recognized nationally as the pioneers of Whole Health Education®, the school has instructed thousands of students from varying health occupations from all over the U.S., and now offers on-line distance learning with students located on five continents. For more information call (888) 354-HEAL (4325).

Press Contact: Carol Arnold, Arnold Communications, (877) 718-4604 x2, carol@arnoldcomm.com.

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Established in 1977, NIWH is the pioneer of Whole Health Education® and Behavioral Engagement ™, the first patient education and health coaching model developed and utilized in clinical settings.