American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)

The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) embraces nursing as a lifestyle and a profession and provides a means to create bonds within the nursing community. Because true healing comes from within, the AHNA recognizes that nurses must first heal themselves before they can facilitate the healing of others. There are many roads to healing, and individuals must seek their own paths. The AHNA serves as a bridge between the traditional medical paradigm and universal complementary and alternative healing practices.
The AHNA was founded in 1981 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization. Its membership is open to nurses and other individuals interested in holistically-oriented health care practices throughout the United States and the world. AHNA supports the education of nurses, allied health practitioners, and the general public on health-related issues.

AHNA supports the concepts of holism: a state of harmony among body, mind, emotions and spirit within an ever-changing environment. The vision of the American Holistic Nurses Association is to be the definitive voice for holistic nursing. It is the mission of the American Holistic Nurses Association to unite nurses in healing.

The AHNA philosophy embraces the beliefs that:
1.    Nursing is both an art and a science with the primary purpose to nurture others towards the wholeness inherent within them.
2.    Nurses have a unique opportunity to provide services that facilitate wholeness.
3.    Holistic Nurses demonstrate expertise in a variety of roles and activities.
4.    Holistic nursing assists people to assume personal responsibility for self-care.
5.    Clients, families, and communities have the right to health care that honors the body, mind, and spirit.
6.    Disease and distress are viewed as an opportunity for increased awareness of the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit.
7.    Holistic modalities and therapies provide support and options in healing.
8.    The American Holistic Nurses' Association serves as a foundation and dynamic force for nursing practice. We are committed to unity and healing self, the nursing profession, and the planet.

Contact information:

www.ahna.org 

P.O. Box 2130
Flagstaff, AZ 86003-2130
phone: (800)278-2462 or (928)526-2196  fax: (928) 526-2752

Representative for the AHNA - Lucia Thornton, RN, MSN, AHN-BC

  I’ve been involved in nursing, holistic healing and healthcare for over 25 years.  Currently, I have the honor of serving as President-Elect for the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA).  Holistic nurses bring healing to the forefront of healthcare and understand the importance of  deeply caring for s/Self and o/Others.  When a critical mass of nurses align themselves with healing, the profession as a whole will be transformed.  Nursing will then embrace the mission intended by it’s founder, Florence Nightingale, and become the discipline that is the bearer of Light in society. Working to create that awareness among nurses, schools, and healthcare organizations is part of the mission of the AHNA, and one that I am honored to be a part of.    

Early in my career I worked in various clinical settings including emergency and trauma, intensive care, school nursing,  research and development and served as Director of Nursing Quality Assurance for the University of Miami Medical Center.      Professionally, some of the “things” that I have accomplished include:  Creating one of the first inpatient hospice homes in the country, developing the process of Board Certification for Holistic Nursing, creating community organizations focused on health and healing, serving on the nursing faculty for a university, teaching holistic nursing to nurses across the country, maintaining a  practice in holistic nursing and healing, and  developing programs and systems that transform hospitals into healing environments.   

Presently, I am most interested in further developing and promoting the Model of Whole-Person Caring as a vehicle to bring healing back into healthcare.  The model redefines who we are, and creates an organizational  framework that acknowledges and supports our infinite and sacred nature.  The model is based on the works of nursing theorists, scientists, practitioners, spiritual teachers and healers. The model’s implementation in a hospital has resulted in considerable savings by decreasing nursing turnover and improving patient satisfaction.  It is quantifiable proof that a model based in  healing can and does  work in the current healthcare milieu.     

In writing this short bio I have focused on the “things” that I have done.  Yet, none of these accomplishments really matter or define me.  Sharing tender moments with friends, family, colleagues, pets and nature; caring for my dying father; caring for my mother with Alzheimer’s; grieving  the death of my son; writing; teaching; healing; planning; developing . . .  any activity arising from that infinite field of Love creates an energetic that is eternal . . . that is what is important . . . that is what continues on . . . and. . .  that is what comes closest to meaningfully defining who I am!

 
CONTACT INFORMATION

Lucia Thornton
12592 Valley Vista Lane
Fresno, Ca  93720
office phone and fax: 559 434 0900
mobile phone: 559 824 4702
www.SoulfulPractice.com (under development)  

 
 
Alternate for the AHNA - Sonja Simpson, RN, MSN, AHN-BC

I have had a very eclectic nursing professional career. The major part of my career has been in leadership/administrative positions. These positions have been in hospitals and medical centers as well as professional organizations. In each of these positions, I have been the “exception “in my style. My approach has been to look at the organization from a systems and holistic point of view. The staff are the players, so to speak, in an organization and I am the orchestra leader and together we bring the “whole” to a more improved level of function utilizing each person’s unique style. 

When staff is energized and live a balanced life…the synergy between staff and patients or staff and members has the potential of moving to another level of operation. 

I have also served in a consultant role both for accrediting bodies like JCAHO and CHAP as well as my own consulting company.  

The past 12 years I have moved totally to the healing environment working with professional organizations, health ministry with faith based groups and professional organizations such as the American Holistic Nurses Association.