Fundamental and guiding principles of humanistic education are the development of the whole; both the intellectual and emotional are deeply rooted in humanistic psychology. Humanistic educators are facilitators of learning and foster an environment of trust with the student, thus providing a safe and encouraging relationship. Humanistic nursing education demonstrates connectedness, presence, growth and respect where students are viewed through a holistic lens. The center of holistic nursing is the nurse-patient relationship that emphasizes the well being of the whole person that is a mirror image of Carl Rogers' client-centered practice. This research sought to illuminate the potential of the nurse-educator and nursing-students' holistic relationship which draws upon humanistic psychology's theories and strategies.

This qualitative research study, what is the lived experience of being a holistic nurse educator: a heuristic study, delves into the lives of nine women to collectively tell their story of this way of "being" as a holistic nurse educator. The heuristic model was chosen because of its qualitative and subjective nature, which is believed to be the most appropriate when studying a personal and very human experience. The objective, in using this methodology, is to arrive at meanings and essences that are inherent in the lived experiences and to gain a deeper understanding of a way of "being".

Gleaned from personal narratives, journals, poems, and historical documents of nine holistic nurse educators, the following nine themes emerged: holistic nursing goes beyond, healer and instrument of healing, on the fringe, creative, gift finders, desire to make a difference, values culture and humanness, connections, an individualist. The theme, "transcend" became known, as this authoress "lived with" nine amazing stories of holistic nurse educators. Holistic nurse educators go beyond themselves in acts of love and reaching beyond self to a higher being when working with nursing students. The creative synthesis is the grand finale of the heuristic approach. The profession of nursing is often defined as an art and a science. This authoress rendered that holistic nurse educators are the healing "artist" of nursing. As the artist "loves" and becomes invested in their work, so too, does the holistic nurse educator become connected with her students. Holistic nurse educators hear and understand their calling and they humanistically create a Renoir with each nursing student.