In 1976, a group of Boston nurses, along with other licensed health professionals, discussed the gaping and absent piece of patient care. All of these professionals had experienced in their work the lack of inviting the individual into the center of their care by being informed or educated about the what, how and why of their health concerns and presentations.

Led by a nurse educator, the organization was formed, courses in Whole Health were offered and by word of mouth 32 learners graduated in 1977. In 1980, the first hospital study began on the model at Boston’s Lemuel Shattuck Hospital. The study was conducted at the hospital utilizing NIWH trained graduates from the Whole Health program, until late 1989 when state funding for the hospital program was cut.

The term Whole Health was first used by the pioneers and visionaries who developed, researched and nationally accredited the foundations of what Whole Health is about. Whole Health is a perspective of integrated wholeness which defines the unfolding of an individual’s life in terms of their health, wellness, fulfillment or disease state.

The National Institute of Whole Health is the pioneer and visionary of Whole Health centered transformation in health care.

NIWH provides the whole package for success – whether in private practice or in partnership within a medical practice. Billing and Coding expert guidance, practice building, professional networking, and success mentoring are all available to NIWH learners and graduates from initial enrollment to graduation and beyond! All learners, past and present, are part of the Whole Family and Community at NIWH and are always welcome to participate in all Whole Health offerings. We want you to succeed!!

NIWH’s post-professional program is the premier and only professional and nationally accredited training in the field of Whole Health. It provides the opportunity to earn a medical provider status – an NPI number and professional liability insurance as a patient health educator – plus board certified patient advocate credentials through PACB.

While coaching is an excellent set of skills all professionals should possess, without the demystified health information an individual needs to discern what changes they are aligned with making in their personal self-care, sustainable change is not possible. Advocacy skills and services also provide the resource information many individuals need to achieve their goals to support sustainable change.

3-in-1 Whole Health Education® Program is
Accredited by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence

While there are excellent training programs in coaching skills and lifestyle change motivation, these programs do not offer the comprehensive skills set necessary to provide demystified patient health information, patient health advocacy and a clinically tested model of provider-patient communication.

The NIWH Whole Health approach provides the client with a simple, yet evidence-based understanding of the 5 Aspects of Whole Health™, regarding the cause of their chronic health concerns, empowering them to discern their personal, self-directed lifestyle choices for sustainable health and wellness.

For a comprehensive chart comparison please visit our Whole Health Education with Whole Health Coaching page.

The NIWH professional programs are ONLY available to licensed, credentialed and educated medical, allied health, mental health, health education, nutrition, wellness and fitness professionals.

NIWH Whole Health Education training programs are one of the only post-professional programs to qualify healthcare professionals for an individual National Provider Identification number for patient health and wellness education.

This important credential allows for secondary insurance billing by professional trained and credentialed health and wellness educators. Patient Health Education services are eligible for health insurance billing and reimbursable. NIWH graduates can obtain a National Provider Insurance (NPI) number and professional liability insurance.

NIWH provides an insurance billing manual for their practice, or for their provider employer. Our billing model is updated twice annually by a certified billing and coding expert and provides current up-to-date codes and procedures for the most accurate, optimal billing outcomes.

Though the 12 month average is based on the metrics of our pilot studies, the NIWH training is self-directed, audio/video learning based, continuing education, which the learner can tailor to their particular lifestyle and individual circumstances. 6-8 hours per week is what is required to complete the program in 12 months. 12-16 is what is required to finish the program in 6 months.

We offer audio/video delivered, ACCELERATED programs for those who wish

to move more quickly through the training. Our Accelerated Programs are 6 months long with up to 12 months provided to complete the curriculum. By doing half the program in portable audio learning and the balance in video learners the program can easily be accelerated according to the learner’s schedule for listening and viewing.

Many of our learners are practicing professionals who complete their coursework in between work and personal commitments, while others are self-employed or stay at home parents who have the flexibility to complete their program at a quicker rate. Ultimately, it is up to the learner and how much time they have to dedicate.

While the learner works with an assigned academic adviser, have access to live, in-person monthly calls, private Facebook to connect with and receive support from graduates and other learners and 24/7 Program Services, this is a self-directed program. You received feedback from your adviser when you submit your assignments, as well as your CE hours certificate.

Some learners plan a long vacation and do a concentration of work in a short period of time and then take off an extended period of time for travel, family circumstances, vacation, and so forth.

As the pioneer and leader of the national Whole Health, Whole Person Healthcare movement, the pre-requisites NIWH requires will allow graduate professionals to qualify for and participate in national insurance networks, job placement in mainstream health care and provide to their clients NPI # qualified health insurance billable services in patient health educator. Graduates can also take the national Patient Advocate certification exam. In addition: Graduates can also earn additional professional credentials as a result of completing the NIWH training.

Many other programs do not advise their learners about the professional, legal and ethical guidelines of the health, nutrition, education or counseling professions. Unless an individual possesses a scope of practice within their professional discipline; and unless they have the appropriate training, credentials and professional liability for the work they are performing and charging for, they are at risk for legal, financial and civil sanctions.

The pre-requisites to qualify for registration in NIWH’s professionally endorsed/approved/accredited, and our nationally accredited, evidence-based programs position NIWH to be recognized by national health education, advocacy and health care organizations as the most credentialed evidence-based, integrative, Whole Health and Wellness education program in the U.S.

The successful completion of a NIWH Whole Health program allows professionals to successfully achieve mainstream job placement in this exciting health care and advocacy specialty.

As NIWH offers the most comprehensive, accredited development training for credentialed health care professionals, the entrance requirements and professional accreditation of the NIWH Whole Health programs are in keeping with national guidelines for the practice of and employment in the fields of wellness, medicine, patient health education, health coaching and health advocacy.

NIWH cautions those seeking to enter the fields of integrative health care, integrated nutrition or health and wellness coaching, to thoroughly evaluate the quality and authenticity of any training program they are considering.

In addition, identify how the particular training translates into real credentials and credibility when seeking mainstream job placement or employment.

Please read our free, downloadable Career Guide for some straightforward tips on finding the program that is right for you.

There are many benefits for all nurse professionals in the NIWH Whole Health for Nurses training program:

• NIWH provides ANCC approved continuing education contact hours
• Nurses can use their approved contact hours for nurses to qualify for the national Holistic Nurse Certification examination. (Learn more about Holistic Nurse Certification.)
• Nurses can take the national Patient Advocate certification exam.
• Nurses can “test-out” for the national Chronic Care Professional (CCP) certification
• This is an AHNCC approved program
• Nurses can become an AHNCC Board Certified Nurse Coach
• Nurse professionals receive AHNA member discounts on program fees
• NIWH is an endorsed AHNA program
• NIWH is an endorsed content provider of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing.

Professional patient health advocates are trained in many aspects of facilitation for an individual’s health and wellness. Advocates also specialize in various skills and services. For more details, please visit our page on: What does a patient health advocate do?

• Graduates can take the national Patient Advocate certification exam.

The healthcare provider credentials granted by the Whole Health training are highly valuable and provide a skill set much in demand in today’s healthcare landscape. Knowledge of disease prevention, with patient health education for alleviating chronic illness and coaching communication skills are sought after by health care employers.

Physicians and nurse practitioners can bill for your patient health education services and provide better service for their patients and realize a significance increase in their income.

The holistic nurse is a nursing professional who is committed to providing “whole person” health care. A certification for the holistic nurse includes skills, tools and information about how to serve their patients from a multi-dimensional perspective. NIWH 3-in-1 Whole Health program is an endorsed program of the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) as well as the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC). As such, graduates can sit for both the AHNA Board Certified Holistic Nurse exam as well as the AHNCC Board Certified Nurse Coach exam. Read more about the certification for holistic nurse process.

Both. Graduates of the NIWH Whole Health training possess the skills, knowledge and medical credentials to succeed in independent practice or through working with a medical/wellness practice or facility.

The program is designed only for qualified and licensed health professionals who have patient health education included in their credentialed scope of practice. Upon completing the Whole Health training, they qualify for an NPI number specific to bill for patient education services in private practice or to have their work facility bill for their services.

While coaching communication skills are a valuable part of the Whole Health training, they are not eligible to be billed independently; the NPI number you receive upon successful completion of the Whole Health training is for patient health education only. Be advised that any billing for coaching services is not permitted. Billing for patient health education when it is actually health coaching that is being provided is also not legal.

NIWH provides free networking and practice building courses within our curriculum, as well as services with attorneys, career coaches and billing experts upon graduation, and teleconferences, workshops and other resources for current learners and graduates on how to establish a successful Whole Health practice.

The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) provides an opportunity for any duly licensed nurse professional to become a nationally certified Holistic Nurse. Read more about how to become a Certified Holistic Nurse.

Holistic Nurse Coaching has become a popular focus for Wellness focused nurse professionals. The AHNCC has created a national Board Certified Coach designation, which requires approved and endorsed courses to qualify to sit for this national board certification. Read more about the Holistic Nurse Coach certification process.

In addition to the pages on our website, you can read reviews here:

http://allnurses.com/holistic-nursing/anyone-done-niwh-555737-page6.html

https://www.bbb.org/boston/business-reviews/educational-research/national-institute-of-whole-health-in-wellesley-ma-84752/reviews-and-complaints

The learner can choose from several different payment options offered by NIWH that includes greatly discounted one-time payment option as well as various affordable monthly plans. Learners can also create their own monthly payment plans with a down payment that will reduce monthly tuition costs. See our fees page for more information.

Yes, each year a Whole Health focused CE course is required to be completed for renewal. A Code of Ethics is also required to be complied with to qualify for renewal. Here is our Code of Ethics:

CODE OF ETHICS & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
WHOLE HEALTH CERTIFICANTS

The National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH) has adopted the following Code of Ethics to establish the highest standards in the field of Whole Health Education. The following principles are general statements codifying the ethical and professional ideals certificants are expected to display in their professional activities.

1 –Work with Purpose and Integrity™
Integrity demands honesty and candor, which must not be compromised for personal gain. Whole Health Educators are placed in positions of trust by clients, and the ultimate source of that trust is the Educator’s personal integrity. Allowance can be made for innocent error and legitimate differences of opinion, but integrity cannot co-exist with deceit or undermining of one’s principles.

2 – Be Objective
Objectivity requires intellectual honesty and impartiality. Regardless of the particular service rendered by a Whole Health Educator, they should protect the integrity of their work and maintain objectivity in their client interactions.

3 – Demonstrate Competence
Competence means attaining and maintaining an adequate level of knowledge and skill, and application of that knowledge and skill in providing services to clients. Competence also includes the wisdom to recognize the limitations of that knowledge and when consultation with other professionals is appropriate or referral to other professionals necessary. Certificants make a continuing commitment to learning and professional improvement.

4 – Be Fair and Reasonable in all Client Interactions
Fairness requires impartiality, intellectual honesty and disclosure of material conflicts of interest. It involves being able to leave one’s own feelings, prejudices and desires “at the door” in order to achieve a proper balance of conflicting interests. Fairness is essentially the application of the Golden Rule: treating others as you would like to be treated.

5 – Protect the Confidentiality of all Client Information
Confidentiality means ensuring that information is accessible only to authorized parties. A relationship of trust and confidence with the client can only be built upon the understanding that the client’s information will remain confidential.

6 – Act in a Manner that Demonstrates Exemplary Professional Conduct
Professionalism requires behaving with dignity and courtesy to clients, fellow professionals, and others in business-related activities.

7 – Provide Professional Services Diligently
Diligence is the provision of services in a reasonably prompt and thorough manner, including the proper planning.

I, _____________________, have read, understand, and agree to adhere to the above listed code of ethics for Whole Health Education certificants. I also understand that any violation of the code may result in the loss of my ability to renew my certificate in Whole Health Education.

Name (e- sign using the last four digits of your SSN) ______________________________
Date______________________
Witness (e-sign as above) __________________________________________
Date ______________________

NIWH invites applicants to inquire regarding any accommodations for learning needs they may have to achieve a successful completion of the program and/or courses. Each learner is provided these services based on an individual assessment regarding needs. This may require a phone interview specific to their concerns. The program Services Department can be reached at 781-237-7971.