The Functional Nurse Podcast - Nursing in Functional Medicine – Details, episodes & analysis

In this engaging episode, host Brigitte Sager introduces special guest Rose Acholla, MSN APRN FNP-C RN NC, an experienced ICU nurse and family nurse practitioner, who shares her inspiring journey from traditional healthcare to holistic and functional medicine. With 13 years in critical care and as an NP since 2021, Rose explains how she began to feel limited by conventional approaches in primary care. Seeking a deeper way to support her patients, she found functional medicine, completing courses in Functional Medicine for Nurses and Nurse Coaching. Rose then launched RA Coaching and Consulting LLC in December 2023 to offer a holistic approach to wellness.

Operating in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, her mission is to provide personalized care, especially for underserved populations in their 40's to 60's, empowering them to take control of their health and wellness journey. She is especially passionate about working with clients on managing chronic disease, promoting wellness, and empowering women through their hormonal shifts and life transitions. Throughout, Rose highlights the importance of meeting clients where they are, tailoring care plans to fit each individual’s goals, needs, and capacity for change.

🖊️ You can connect with Rose via her website: https://msha.ke/revitalizewellnesswithrose 

And you can follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revitalizewellnesswithrose/ 

and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564615112459 

To stay up to date with the latest and upcoming, please sign up for my newsletter by visiting BrigitteSager.com.

Hosted by Brigitte Sager, NP, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and an RN and NP FM educator.

Consider sharing this podcast with other nurses on your social media platforms, in a text, or listen together on this page or share this link to the website and podcast. We also now have video episodes on YouTube! 

Be well!

In this bonus episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, host Brigitte Sager shares exciting news for nurses interested in entrepreneurship. After listening to feedback from students in her functional medicine course, Brigitte realized that many nurses need guidance on starting their own businesses, especially in functional medicine and holistic healthcare. She discusses the challenges nurses face, like business structure, marketing, and client acquisition, and announces the launch of a new mentorship and entrepreneurial program designed to help nurses build their practices.

Brigitte invites nurses to apply for the Founders Launch, which will include small group sessions twice a month. Participants will help shape the content of the full program, ensuring it addresses the real-world challenges they face. The program will include expert insights on business topics such as legal considerations, marketing, and healthcare documentation. The Founders will also receive full access to the program upon its official launch in early 2025.

To stay up to date with the latest and upcoming, please sign up for my newsletter by visiting BrigitteSager.com.

Hosted by Brigitte Sager, NP, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and an RN and NP FM educator.

Consider sharing this podcast with other nurses on your social media platforms, in a text, or listen together on this page or share this link to the website and podcast. We also now have video episodes on YouTube! 

Be well!

In this episode of The Functional Nurse podcast, Brigitte Sager interviews Chelsea McGee, a registered nurse and holistic health practitioner. Chelsea shares her journey from serving in the military to becoming a nurse, nurse coach, and ultimately starting her own business. She explains how she integrates Eastern healing concepts with Western medicine through modalities such as sound healing, Reiki, meditation, and functional medicine.

Chelsea discusses the importance of self-healing and self-love, particularly how releasing trauma and negative self-talk has helped both her and her clients achieve greater health. She dives into her practice's focus on holistic approaches, ranging from functional medicine and energy healing to biohacking with tools like the BrainTap device.

Key highlights include:

Chelsea’s transition from conventional medicine to holistic nursing.

The role of self-love and healing in nursing and patient care.

Insights into biohacking for patient awareness without over-relying on data.

The science behind sound healing and meditation, focusing on brainwave patterns and the nervous system.

Her thoughts on leading wellness retreats and empowering clients and nurses through holistic practices.

You can find Chelsea via her website: https://www.atlashealthco.com/

Hosted by Brigitte Sager, NP, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and an RN and NP FM educator.

This episode and others now available to watch via YouTube here!

Consider sharing this podcast with other nurses on your social media platforms, in a text, or listen together on this page or share this link to the website and podcast.

Be well!

In this episode, functional medicine nurse practitioner and educator Brigitte Sager shares her key takeaways from the 2024 IFM Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Brigitte highlights the growing role of nurse coaches in functional medicine and the exciting developments presented by thought leaders like Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Jeffrey Bland. She discusses topics like the long lag between research and clinical practice, how emerging tech and AI are shaping healthcare, and the potential for a blood test to evaluate gut health. Brigitte also touches on the importance of group medical visits and the evolving understanding of women’s health, particularly around hormone balance and nutrition.

From insights on functional medicine’s role in addressing root causes of chronic disease to inspiring discussions on improving healthcare outcomes, this episode is full of valuable takeaways for nurses interested in functional medicine.

Hosted by Brigitte Sager, NP, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and an RN and NP FM educator.

This episode and others now available to watch on YouTube!

Consider sharing this podcast with other nurses on your social media platforms, in a text, or listen together on this page or share this link to the website and podcast.

Be well!

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at www.fxnursing.com

What does functional medicine look like when practiced through the lens of 35 years of nursing experience?

In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, interviews Monique Class, MSN, ARNP, IFMCP, a board-certified family nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist in holistic health. Together, they explore how functional medicine, holistic nursing, and systems biology come together in real-world practice.

Monique shares her unconventional path into nursing and how mind-body medicine, integrative care, and therapeutic partnership shaped her clinical philosophy long before functional medicine had a name. She explains why functional medicine became “home” — a science-based, patient-centered model that blends biochemistry with story and relationship.

You’ll hear real clinical examples of root cause care in action, including:

• Toxin exposure and environmental triggers

• Mitochondrial dysfunction and energy restoration

• Asking better clinical questions: “When were you last well?”

• Using IFM tools to streamline patient education

• Running an efficient functional practice without relying on excessive testing

Monique and Brigitte also discuss how coaching skills support sustainable behavior change and why nursing scope, clarity, and confidence are essential in personalized care.

This episode is essential listening for RNs and APRNs who want to practice functional or holistic medicine ethically, efficiently, and with professional confidence.

Explore functional nursing education and mentorship at: www.fxnursing.com

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing — Learn more at www.fxnursing.com

Imposter syndrome in nursing is more common than we admit — and it often intensifies when stepping into functional medicine, holistic nursing, leadership, or advanced practice roles.

In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, explores why nurses at every level — from new grads and charge nurses to nurse practitioners and educators — experience self-doubt when their responsibilities expand. She explains why confidence often lags behind competence, especially when practicing root-cause, systems-based care.

Brigitte shares practical, nurse-tested strategies to move forward with clarity and professionalism:

• How to build confidence through clinical application

• Why mentorship and peer support matter in functional nursing

• Reframing negative self-talk and strengthening professional identity

• A simple readiness framework: If you can explain the “why,” you’re ready to begin

She also offers two important cautions for nurses expanding into holistic or functional practice:

1. Avoid offering services for free just to “practice”

2. Be thoughtful about treating friends and family while building new skills

Whether you’re a new grad nurse, charge nurse, nurse practitioner, educator, or entrepreneur, this episode will help you normalize imposter feelings and develop grounded, ethical confidence in your evolving nursing role.

Explore functional nursing education and mentorship at: www.fxnursing.com

In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, shares her top five key takeaways from the Integrative Nurse Coach Symposium held in Miami, Florida. From the importance of self-care in nursing to trauma-informed care and community service, Brigitte covers the most impactful insights from the event. Learn more about the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation movement, the power of trauma-informed care, the significance of service and outreach, cannabis in nursing, and the shared experiences that bring nurses together.

If you missed the symposium, this episode provides a valuable recap and highlights some must-know topics for nurses looking to expand their practice into functional and holistic nursing.

Hosted by Brigitte Sager, NP, a functional medicine nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and an RN and NP FM educator.

Consider sharing this podcast with other nurses on your social media platforms, in a text, or listen together on this page or share this link to the website and podcast.

Be well!

This episode is proudly sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Explore functional nursing education, mentorship, and community at: www.fxnursing.com

Discover how nurses are transforming patient care through the lens of functional and integrative medicine. In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, host Brigitte Sager, DNP, sits down with Rita Wadhwani, RN, MSN, ACNP, CNS, RNC-NIC, explore her inspiring shift from conventional ICU nursing to a root-cause, holistic approach grounded in biochemistry, gut health, and lifestyle medicine.

Rita shares how optimizing stomach acid, balancing the microbiome, and deprescribing medications like PPIs can dramatically improve digestion, chronic disease outcomes, and overall well-being. With over 25 years of experience, Rita empowers nurses to apply functional medicine principles to their practice—and their lives.

This conversation is packed with actionable takeaways for nurses, practitioners, and anyone passionate about integrative healthcare.

Connect with Rita Wadhwani Website: https://www.ibiomehealthcare.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ibiome_holisticnp/

Hosted by: Brigitte Sager, DNP – Functional medicine NP and RN/NP educator.

Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with fellow nurses and practitioners!

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – Explore programs and resources at www.fxnursing.com

What happens when nurses start asking why—why symptoms are showing up, why healthcare is failing so many patients, and why they became nurses in the first place?

In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager explores how functional medicine begins with asking deeper questions—about the patient, the root cause, and the system. She shares how functional nursing is not about abandoning conventional care, but about expanding it through critical thinking, advocacy, and education.

You’ll also hear how burnout, task-driven care, and systemic pressures can leave nurses feeling disconnected from their purpose—and how functional medicine offers a pathway back to meaningful, patient-centered work. Whether you're working in the hospital, clinic, or community, this episode will remind you of the power you already have to lead change—simply by asking, “Why?”

• Functional nursing starts when nurses ask why—not just how to manage symptoms

• Root cause care personalizes treatment based on the whole person, not just the diagnosis

• Nurses can apply functional principles right now through education and patient advocacy

• Burnout is often a signal of misalignment—functional medicine can reconnect nurses with purpose

• Today’s patients want personalized, meaningful care—and nurses are perfectly positioned to offer it

• You don’t need to diagnose or prescribe to practice functional medicine ethically and effectively

Want to turn your clinical curiosity into functional nursing skills?

Explore the Institute for Functional Nursing's current course offerings at: https://www.fxnursing.com/learn

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing (IFN) — helping nurses lead the future of healthcare through functional medicine education and support. Learn more at www.fxnursing.com

In this inspiring episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP, IFMCP, sits down with Melissa Armstrong, BSN, RN, HWNC-BC, a board-certified nurse coach and functional medicine practitioner who left her career in the Pediatric ICU to build a thriving virtual wellness business.

Melissa shares her personal journey through chronic fatigue, unresolved trauma, anxiety, and gut issues, and how those challenges led her to discover the power of functional medicine. Now the founder of Holistic Health, LLC, Melissa works with women to uncover and address root causes of illness through coaching, lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and functional lab testing.

In this episode, Brigitte and Melissa explore:

• How to blend nurse coaching with functional medicine principles

• Navigating scope of practice as a nurse entrepreneur

• Building a virtual business using nurse coaching and high-touch programs

• How to charge your worth and create sustainable pricing

• The growing demand for holistic health services

• Empowering patients with trauma-informed care and education

Whether you're a nurse exploring holistic care, looking to leave the traditional model, or dreaming of launching your own business — this conversation will leave you motivated and equipped with actionable insights.

Hosted by Brigitte Sager, NP – Functional Medicine Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Coach, and Functional Nurse Educator.

• Instagram: @holistichealthbymelissa

• Facebook: Holistic Health by Melissa

• Website: https://holistichealthbymelissa.com

• Podcast: Holistic Health with Melissa