AHN-BC study plan
AHN-BC · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Holistic Nursing Practice
Define holistic nursing practice and distinguish it from the biomedical model in writing
Map the five AHN-BC domains to real clinical scenarios you have encountered
Identify the core holistic nursing concepts (unitary human being, health as wholeness, healing) and explain each in your own words
Build a personal glossary of 25 holistic nursing terms with definitions you can state aloud
Your checkpoint
A one-page concept map linking the five domains to five of your own clinical experiences, plus the completed 25-term glossary
Holistic Nursing Practice
Explain the scope and standards of holistic nursing practice by paraphrasing each standard
Differentiate holistic assessment from conventional assessment and list the added elements
Apply holistic principles to three hypothetical patient cases and justify your approach
Draft 20 original practice questions on Domain 1 and answer them without notes
Your checkpoint
A 20-question self-written Domain 1 quiz with answer rationales and a scored result of at least 85%
Holistic Caring Process
Sequence the steps of the holistic caring process and state the purpose of each
Construct a holistic assessment plan for a simulated patient using all process elements
Translate a patient's stated values and goals into a written holistic care plan
Evaluate a care plan against holistic outcome criteria and revise it once
Your checkpoint
A complete written holistic care plan for one simulated patient, including assessment, diagnosis, plan, intervention, and evaluation sections
Holistic Caring Process & Communication, Therapeutic Partnership, and Environment
Demonstrate therapeutic communication techniques by scripting three difficult conversations
Design a healing environment for a simulated patient that addresses physical, emotional, and social dimensions
Practice reflective listening and summarize a peer or colleague conversation in writing
Identify barriers to therapeutic partnership and propose a response to each
Your checkpoint
A written portfolio of three scripted difficult conversations with annotated therapeutic techniques and a healing-environment design for one patient scenario
Communication, Therapeutic Partnership, and Environment
Explain the components of a therapeutic partnership and how each builds trust
Analyze how environment (noise, light, privacy, presence) affects healing and describe your own environmental adjustments
Role-play a shared decision-making conversation and document the outcome
Practice giving and receiving feedback on communication using a structured format
Your checkpoint
A recorded or scripted shared decision-making dialogue with a written self-critique identifying three strengths and three growth areas
Holistic Nurse Self-Reflection and Self-Care
Assess your own current self-care practices and stress patterns using a written self-inventory
Create a realistic weekly self-care plan that fits your work schedule
Practice two relaxation or mindfulness techniques and log your response to each
Explain how nurse self-reflection supports safe, effective holistic care
Your checkpoint
A completed self-care plan plus a seven-day reflection log documenting practice, stress level, and one insight per day
Cultural, Ethical, and Professional Holistic Nursing
Compare cultural values and beliefs that influence health and healing and describe how to respond respectfully
Apply an ethical decision-making framework to two holistic nursing dilemmas
Identify professional boundaries and scope issues in holistic practice scenarios
Explain how cultural humility differs from cultural competence in your own words
Your checkpoint
Two written ethical case analyses using a named decision-making framework, each with a justified recommendation
Holistic Nursing Practice & Holistic Nurse Self-Reflection and Self-Care & Holistic Caring Process & Communication, Therapeutic Partnership, and Environment & Cultural, Ethical, and Professional Holistic Nursing
Synthesize all five domains by writing integrated answers to cross-domain scenarios
Complete a timed 100-question mixed practice exam and score at least 80%
Review every missed item and write a corrective rationale for each
Finalize a one-page personal holistic practice philosophy statement
Your checkpoint
A scored 100-question timed practice exam with a written error-analysis log and a final one-page practice philosophy statement
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 85% on your self-written Domain 1 quiz and explain all five domains without notes
Week 4: Complete a full holistic care plan and three scripted therapeutic conversations with self-annotation
Week 6: Maintain a seven-day self-care and reflection log with no missed entries
Week 8: Score at least 80% on the timed 100-question mixed exam and complete error analysis for every missed item