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 Founder, Everest Functional Psychiatry and Wellness, and Evergreen Functional Collective

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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