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A 2024 report from the Pew Research Center shows that the number of centenarians in the United States is projected to more than quadruple by 2054. As they think about possibly reaching the age of 100, individuals in their 80s and 90s can reap enormous benefits from lifestyle improvements to help maintain their mental, social, spiritual, physical, and emotional health. Wellness nurses help implement a range of supportive care methods to meet the comprehensive needs of aging populations.

Since these professionals are already registered nurses (RNs), they can use their patient care experience as they plan and oversee wellness programs, conduct one-on-one consultations, and assess the needs of junior nursing staff members. Their communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills are valuable as they consult with social workers, therapists, physicians, and families.

Earning an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) helps graduates in other fields fast track a change to a career in nursing. 

Wellness Nurse Responsibilities

Wellness nurses typically work in residential settings, such as home health or assisted living, long-term care, and older adult communities. What makes them unique is their focus on improving a patient’s well-being by incorporating lifestyle improvements, such as exercise, diet, and physical therapy. This focus on wellness practices overlaps with the approach taken by community health nurses, but wellness nurses focus on the care of individuals rather than on the needs of the community as a whole.

Common duties include the following:

• Assessing and monitoring patients’ falls, injuries, and illnesses
• Documenting patients’ medical progress
• Identifying the needs and services of patients
• Consulting with team members on care management for patients with chronic conditions
• Conducting ongoing communication with patients’ families and loved ones
• Educating patients on ways to improve their health
• Measuring and administering medication, as instructed
• Managing and hosting an organization’s clinical health and wellness program
• Disposing of hazardous materials in appropriate containers

Is Wellness Nursing the Same as Holistic Nursing?

While wellness nursing and holistic nursing share some similarities, there are key differences. Where they overlap is in their care of a patient’s whole being. However, how they accomplish this goal differs. 

Holistic nurses address mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health through both traditional medicine and other alternative therapies. They emphasize a focus on healing the whole being: body, mind, and spirit.

Wellness nurses typically take a more preventive approach to health. Rather than healing illness, wellness nurses focus on health promotion and improving patients’ quality of life. For instance, they may work with patients with chronic conditions to improve how they manage day-to-day tasks. 

Why Wellness Nursing Is Growing: The Aging Population Factor

According to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), the U.S. population is older now than it has ever been, and that trend is only expected to increase. Between 2022 and 2050, the number of Americans aged 65 or older is expected to grow by an astonishing 42%.

At the same time, obesity rates among this population are growing, as well as rates of conditions frequently associated with older adults, like Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are also positive trends, such as the increasing ability of older adults to care for themselves, with fewer needing to enter nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The work of wellness nurses helps keep more older adults healthy longer and able to continue their own care.

How to Become a Wellness Nurse

The most common educational path to becoming a wellness nurse is a BSN. While it’s possible to work as an RN without earning a BSN, earning a bachelor’s degree opens the door to more career paths, including specializations like wellness nursing. In addition, most employers of wellness nurses prefer candidates with a BSN.

A BSN is often a prerequisite for certifications and master’s degree programs. Regardless of which path is chosen, all RNs must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to practice.

Experience 

Working in rehabilitation, geriatric, or long-term care settings can offer practical training to RNs interested in becoming wellness nurses. Similar to other nursing roles, this work can be physically demanding, may involve challenges like care coordination and time management, and may require a willingness to work overnight and weekend shifts. Employers hiring wellness nurses typically prefer two to three years of related experience.

Certifications

Many wellness nurses go on to earn certification. A credential in wellness nursing not only demonstrates expertise but can also lead to new career opportunities and higher salaries. One option is the Health and Wellness Nurse Coaching – Board Certified (HWNC-BC) credential offered through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (AHNCC).

Eligibility requirements include a current RN license and at least four years of full-time (or 8,000 hours part-time) nursing experience within the past seven years for diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) holders. For bachelor’s degree holders, the experience requirement is at least two years of full-time experience (or 4,000 hours part-time).

Employment Data for Wellness Nurses

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 5% increase in the employment of RNs, including wellness nurses, from 2024 to 2034. The BLS estimates a steady demand for nurses due to an aging population and the need to educate individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes. Specifically, the BLS forecasts a 9.1% growth rate for RNs in nursing care facilities during the time period.

The BLS reports that as of 2024, the largest employer of RNs (59%) was state, local, and private hospitals. Other significant employers included ambulatory health care services (19%), nursing and residential care facilities (6%), government offices (5%), and educational services (3%).

Advance Your Nursing Career With a Bachelor’s Degree

Prospective wellness nurses should start by gaining hands-on patient care experience to develop their nursing skills. A bachelor’s degree in nursing offers the foundation that employers are looking for.

If you already have a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field, The University of Tulsa’s Online Accelerated BSN program can help you transition to a career as a wellness nurse. With a flexible online program that’s designed to be completed in just 21 months, students develop nursing knowledge through research-based coursework and hands-on clinicals.

Learn how TU’s ABSN program can help you start your nursing career.

Recommended Readings

What Are the 3 P’s in Nursing?

How to Become a Research Nurse

The Benefits of Nurse Mentoring

Sources:

American Holistic Nurses Association, “What Is a Holistic Nurse?”

American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation, Certification

Career Trend, “Wellness Nurse Job Description”

Glassdoor, Wellness Nurse Overview

Pew Research Center, “U.S. Centenarian Population Is Projected to Quadruple Over the Next 30 Years”

Population Reference Bureau, “Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses