The American Nurses Association (ANA) has officially recognized holistic nursing as a nursing specialty with a defined scope and standards of practice. To achieve this status, the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) submitted a 76-page document to the ANA that describes holistic nursing as a focused area of practice. The designation enhances the legitimacy and authority of holistic nursing, says AHNA's executive director Jeanne Crawford.

To be eligible for certification, a nurse must have a current unrestricted RN license in the United States or one of its territories. Membership in the AHNA is open to RNs, LPNs, nursing students, and nonnurses who wish to participate in the organization. For more information, visit the AHNA's Web site at http://www.ahna.org.