How Functional Nurses Support Nervous System Regulation | HeartMath & HRV Explained
Sponsored by the Institute for Functional Nursing. Learn more about our programs at www.fxnursing.com
In this episode of the Functional Nursing Podcast, Brigitte Sager sits down with Barb Hudak—former Air Force Major, cardiac ICU nurse, and integrative practitioner—to explore how functional nurses can use nervous system regulation to support patient healing and improve clinical outcomes.
With over 40 years of experience spanning military healthcare, Mayo Clinic leadership, and holistic practice, Barb shares how tools like HeartMath and heart rate variability (HRV) can be applied in real-world nursing to help patients regulate stress, improve resilience, and support recovery from chronic illness.
You’ll learn how nervous system dysregulation contributes to disease, the role of emotional suppression in long-term health, and how nurses can integrate simple, evidence-informed techniques into everyday patient care. This episode bridges the gap between traditional nursing and functional medicine—offering practical strategies you can start using right away.
Whether you're a registered nurse (RN), nurse practitioner (NP), or transitioning into functional or integrative nursing, this conversation will expand how you think about patient care, stress physiology, and healing.
Connect with Barb Hudak:
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The content in these podcast episodes are for informational or educational purposes brought to you by a Functional Nurse Practitioner and does not substitute professional medical advice or one-on-one consultation with your personal healthcare practitioner. It is strongly recommended that you always consult your healthcare practitioner before undertaking any new healthcare regimen to discuss your personal health history and goals.
