Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager answers one of the most common questions nurses ask when exploring holistic and functional healthcare: can a registered nurse or nurse practitioner become certified in functional medicine?

Brigitte breaks down the current landscape of functional medicine education, explains the difference between certificates and board certifications, clarifies what options are currently available for nurses seeking credibility and advanced training in this growing field and why holistic nursing certification is currently the closest aligned pathway.

This episode also explores the future of functional nursing, including the need for a true nursing-specific board certification in functional medicine and why holistic nursing certification may currently be the closest aligned pathway. Brigitte shares insights on IFM certification, holistic nursing credentials, and how nurses can strategically position themselves for career growth in integrative and functional healthcare settings. If you're considering additional education, wondering what credentials matter most, or trying to decide your next step as a functional nurse or nurse practitioner, this episode offers practical guidance and clarity.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager shares key takeaways from the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute (PLMI) conference, founded by Dr. Jeffrey Bland, often called the father of functional medicine. This conference focused on clinical integration and real-world application, offering insights that nurses and practitioners can immediately implement.

Brigitte breaks down powerful themes from leading experts in functional medicine, including neurodegeneration and microglial health, the role of inflammation and mitochondrial function, evolving gut health protocols, and the critical impact of circadian rhythm and sleep on metabolic health. She also explores practical nutrition insights, including how taste satisfaction influences eating behaviors, and dives into emerging tools like AI-driven clinical support for functional medicine practitioners. If you're a nurse or healthcare professional looking to stay current and effectively apply functional medicine principles, this episode delivers actionable insights and future-forward thinking.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager is joined by Dr. Chip Nguyen, DNP, NP-C, IFMCP,  to explore how a functional medicine nurse can successfully integrate aesthetics with root-cause medicine to create a more holistic, patient-centered practice. With over 18 years of experience across primary care, urgent care, pulmonology, aesthetics, and functional medicine, Chip shares how her own health journey led her to a root-cause, patient-centered approach that redefines modern healthcare.

She explains how functional medicine enhances aesthetic results by addressing hormones, gut health, inflammation, and metabolic balance—creating longer-lasting, more meaningful patient transformations.

This conversation dives into:

Whether you're a nurse practitioner, aesthetic provider, or exploring functional medicine, this episode offers actionable insights on combining beauty, wellness, and clinical expertise into a powerful, future-focused career.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com

In this episode of the Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager, DNP breaks down one of the most common questions nurses and nurse practitioners ask: should you go back to school, and if so, which path is right for you? From BSN to MSN, nurse practitioner programs, DNP vs PhD, and beyond, this episode explores the real impact of advanced degrees on your career, scope of practice, income potential, and long-term fulfillment.

More importantly, this conversation challenges the assumption that more education is always the answer. Brigitte shares insights from her own journey and from working with over a thousand RNs and NPs navigating burnout, career transitions, and the shift toward functional and integrative healthcare. If you're questioning your next step, considering entrepreneurship, or feeling pulled toward a more aligned way of practicing nursing, this episode will help you clarify your goals and make a more intentional decision about your future.

So you’re thinking about starting a holistic nursing business? Amazing. But before you launch that website or invest in a program, there are a few things you need to hear—things most people don’t tell you when you’re just starting out.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to become a nurse entrepreneur in the holistic space. We’ll talk about the emotional rollercoaster, the real cost (in time or money), and the surprising skills you’ll have to learn along the way.

You’ll hear hard-earned truths like:

Why “if you build it, they will come” is a myth (and what to do instead)

Why passion isn’t enough—and what you’ll need to learn to succeed

Why crying (sometimes out of nowhere) is part of the process

And why there's plenty of room for you in this space—even if someone else in town is doing something similar

Whether you’re in the dreaming phase or already building your practice, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and seriously prepared.

It’s not supposed to be easy—but it is worth it. Let’s talk about it.

Learn more about what we offer at the Institute for Functional Nursing or join the movement at fxnursing.com

Considering our Holistic Nursing Entrepreneur Program™? Learn more here: https://learn.fxnursing.com/hnep 

Subscribe for more episodes on nurse entrepreneurship, holistic care, and transforming healthcare through nursing.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our courses and programs at www.fxnursing.com.

In this episode, Brigitte Sager, DNP IFMCP shares a major milestone for IFN: the official launch of the first cohort of the Functional Nursing Program. She also shares highlights from two recent conferences: the AANP Health Policy Conference in Washington, DC and the Integrative Healthcare Symposium in New York City, where IFN hosted its first ever exhibitor booth.

Brigitte recaps key takeaways from health policy advocacy on Capitol Hill, and reflects on why nurses must show up, increase policymakers’ understanding, and communicate in language that resonates with constituents. She also shares insights from the NYC symposium, including emerging themes around GLP-1s, brain health, nitric oxide and the glymphatic system, imaging as a tool in functional care, and the realities of nutrition research. The episode closes with behind the scenes lessons from launching the IFN booth, building partnerships, advocating for registered nurses to be recognized by functional lab companies, and navigating a surprise blizzard that extended the trip.

Thinking about becoming a functional medicine nurse? Before you dive in, there are a few things you need to know.

In this episode, I’m sharing 10 hard-earned truths I wish every nurse knew before stepping into functional nursing. This isn’t just a career shift—it’s a whole new way of thinking about patient care, your scope, and your purpose as a nurse.

We’ll talk about:

Why you’ll never feel fully “ready”—and why that’s okay

What makes functional medicine feel like coming home to nursing

How to stop thinking in silos and start treating the whole person

Why you don’t need 50 labs or supplements to be effective

And why this path might finally align with why you became a nurse in the first place

Whether you're exploring root-cause healing, looking for more autonomy, or just craving work that matters—this episode is for you.

Let’s redefine what it means to be a nurse in today’s healthcare system.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about IFN's current programs at https://www.fxnursing.com

Subscribe for more episodes on holistic nursing, functional medicine, and building your dream practice.

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com

Functional psychiatry is one of the least common niches in the functional medicine world, but it is often where patients experience some of the most profound “whole person” care. In this episode, Brigitte Sager interviews Everest Goldstein, board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and IFM certified clinician, about what functional psychiatry really means, how she built her practice, and why nursing is uniquely positioned to lead in this space.

Everest shares her own turning point after Lyme disease, when a provider spent the time to take a full functional history and connect the dots. From there, she explains how functional psychiatry treats depression and anxiety as symptoms with root causes, not labels that end the conversation. You’ll hear practical, surprising examples of how gut health, cortisol dysregulation, dysbiosis, H. pylori, constipation, and yeast overgrowth can drive mood symptoms, and why foundations like sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition matter more than “shiny objects” like endless supplements, peptides, or IVs.

They also discuss building community as a clinician, the realities of starting a practice, and how nurses can confidently work within scope by focusing on foundational health behaviors and patient education.

Missed the Redefining the Future of Nursing Summit? Click here to get access to all the session replays.

Functional psychiatry is a root-cause approach that integrates conventional and functional tools to restore whole-person health

Depression and anxiety can reflect underlying physiology such as gut dysfunction, cortisol patterns, hormones, sleep disruption, or unresolved trauma

Gut health is a recurring driver in mental health cases, including dysbiosis, H. pylori, constipation, and yeast overgrowth

“Treatment-resistant depression” often signals an incomplete root-cause workup, not a lack of options

Many medication side effects and poor responses make more sense when you evaluate stress physiology (including low cortisol patterns)

Nurses can create major impact within scope by prioritizing foundations: nutrition, sleep, movement, stress regulation, and lifestyle change support

New functional providers often overuse supplements; experienced clinicians typically simplify and return to the basics

Sustainable practice building requires boundaries, community, and a clear niche that patients can understand

Everest Goldstein, PMHNP-BC, IFMCP

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Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing – Explore courses and training at www.fxnursing.com

Elimination diets sound simple on paper, but in real life, they can create confusion, overwhelm, and unexpected setbacks for both nurses and their patients. In this episode of The Functional Nurse Podcast, Brigitte Sager breaks down the top 7 challenges functional medicine nurses face when guiding clients through an elimination diet, and how to set the stage for success from the start.

You’ll learn how to help patients navigate challenges and avoid common reintroduction mistakes that sabotage their hard work. Topics include:

How to choose the right timing and “create space” before starting

Simplifying to reduce overwhelm and prevent burnout

What to do when patients feel worse before they feel better

How to handle slip-ups

Making the reintroduction phase a true experiment with structure and tracking

Avoiding common mistakes like reintroducing foods during illness or flare-ups

Why food sensitivities are not the root cause

This episode empowers nurses to guide patients with confidence, empathy, and clarity while also keeping the focus on gut repair, root cause healing, and sustainable behavior change.

Access the full course: A Functional Nursing Approach to Food Reactions

Learn more about IFN's trainings and resources for functional medicine nurses at: https://www.fxnursing.com/learn

Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at fxnursing.com

Functional Medicine is meant to be about healing the root cause, not just managing symptoms—but not every provider or clinic claiming to practice “FM” is truly doing it. In this powerful episode, I share a personal (and fully permitted) story about a loved one who finally sought Functional Medicine help—only to end up in a clinic focused more on selling expensive labs and supplements than offering real clinical strategy, support, or individualized care.

This isn’t about calling out individuals. It’s about protecting patients—especially those who are vulnerable, overwhelmed, or desperate for answers. I've had this same type of conversation with hundreds of RNs and NPs, and its an all too common problem. Whether you’re navigating chronic illness, searching for integrative support, or trying to help a loved one who’s struggling, this conversation will help you understand how to identify red flags, ask the right questions, and recognize when a provider isn’t truly practicing root-cause Functional Medicine.

 Learn how to vet Functional Medicine providers

If you're looking for ethical, effective, and personalized root-cause care—this episode is for you.

In This Episode:

Signs a clinic may be using "Functional Medicine" as a sales tactic

Why supplement-first protocols often backfire

How to ask better questions before spending thousands

The role of readiness in healing (and how to support someone who’s not ready yet)

The value of proper Functional Medicine training (like IFM)

 If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.