Topeka, KS -- (SBWire) -- 07/17/2014 --The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) has named Justin J. Carpenter, RN, BA, HN-BC of Center Line, MI, to receive the Charlotte McGuire Education Scholarship for 2014 at the just-completed AHNA annual conference held in Portland, OR.

Since 1987, AHNA nurses in pursuit of their professional education have been eligible to apply for this scholarship, named in honor of the founder of AHNA. The Charlotte McGuire award celebrates the commitment of nurses to the practice of holistic healthcare. More than $30,000 has been awarded so far to students in both undergraduate and graduate programs related to holistic nursing.

This year’s award will provide $1,000 to assist Carpenter in continuing his studies toward achieving a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree in December 2014. He’s studying at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI.

Carpenter was chosen because of his focus on incorporating self-care into his personal and professional life, his commitment to holistic nursing practice and philosophy as well as his leadership in advancing holistic nursing.

About Justin Carpenter
Justin J. Carpenter is a full-time registered nurse in the Emergency Room of St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, MI.

He received his BA from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI and his associate degree in nursing from Macomb Community College in Clinton Township, MI. He is a graduate of the Birch Tree Center for Healthcare Transformation’s Integrated Healing Arts Program.

Justin has certifications in Reiki, Korean Hand Therapy, Aromatherapy, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course. In addition to his participation in AHNA, Justin also belongs to the Emergency Nurses Association, Council for Healing Integration, and the Holistic Nursing Conference Planning Committee. He is past chair of the St. John Hospital/Medical Center Emergency Department’s Governing Committee.

Justin’s dedication to holistic nursing principles is demonstrated by his creating a “Renewal Room” for other emergency room nurses to assist them in remaining calm and centered while working in a fast-paced, highly stressed environment. He has also integrated aromatherapy, guided imagery and Caring Science Theory into the emergency department treatment process.

For his leadership and research abilities, Justin was recently recognized by Eastern Michigan University’s Health and Human Services Department as the Outstanding MSN Student of the Year. His plan after graduation is to focus on staff education in holistic nursing practices and to conduct research in holistic practices and various integrative modalities.

About AHNA
Since its founding in 1981, the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) – a non-profit professional membership organization - has increasingly become the definitive global voice for holistic nursing for registered nurses and other holistic healthcare professionals around the globe. It is open to registered nurses and other individuals interested in holistically oriented health care practices throughout the United States.

The organization recently announced their Healthcare: Grounded in Holistic Nursing, will be held June 12-17, 2015 at the Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center in Branson, Missouri.

AHNA’s primary mission is to advance holistic healthcare by increasing awareness, education and both professional and personal community-building among nurses, other healthcare professionals, and the public.

Over the past 34 years AHNA has consistently delivered valuable resources, improved educational tools, and offered superior networking opportunities to a vibrant and expanding universe of healthcare professionals. AHNA currently services almost 4,500 members through 130 local chapters/networks both in the U.S. and abroad.

AHNA supports the education of nurses, allied health practitioners, and the general public on health-related issues and the concepts of holism: a state of harmony among body, mind, emotions, and spirit within an ever-changing environment. Holistic nursing is recognized by the American Nurses Association as an official nursing specialty with both a defined scope and standards of practice.

The American Holistic Nurses Association™ Education Provider Committee is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center™ Commission (ANCC) on Accreditation. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #10442.