What is Holistic Nursing?

What is Holistic Nursing?

The healthcare sector has undergone significant transformations due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the nursing shortage in the United States, and the increasing demand for healthcare services. In response to these challenges, holistic nursing has emerged as an important approach that prioritizes prevention over treatment. Marymount University’s online Master of Science in Nursing for Family Nurse Practitioner programs educate students in the principles of holistic nursing practice to enhance the quality of healthcare. So, what is holistic nursing?

What is Holistic Nursing?

Holistic nursing, in the context of medicine, is a form of care that considers the patient as a whole rather than merely focusing on physical symptoms of illness. From a holistic perspective, healthcare addresses not only the physical health but also the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of the individual. Holistic care aims to improve the patient’s overall quality of life, not just alleviate symptoms.

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Standards of Holistic Nursing Practice

In contrast to Western medicine, which often relies on pharmaceuticals, radiation therapy, and surgery, holistic nursing incorporates various complementary therapies. Registered Nurses recommend several common holistic care techniques, including:

1. Osteopathy
2. Stress management
3. Homeopathy
4. Massage therapy
5. Hypnosis
6. Water therapy and balneotherapy
7. Eastern treatment methods
8. Health and fitness training

The Five Principles of Holistic Nursing

The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) outlines five principles that underlie holistic nursing:

1. Prevention is Better than Cure: Holistic nursing emphasizes preventive care as a key strategy for maintaining health.

2. Effectiveness of Integrating Healing Systems: It recognizes the value of integrating various healing systems, including traditional and alternative approaches, to provide comprehensive care.

3. Relationship-Based Care: Holistic nursing places a strong emphasis on building therapeutic relationships with patients, recognizing the importance of trust and connection in the healing process.

4. Every Experience is a Teaching Opportunity: Holistic nurses view every patient encounter as an opportunity for education and empowerment, helping patients make informed decisions about their health.

5. Acceptance of the Curative Power of Love: This principle acknowledges the healing potential of love, compassion, and emotional support in the healthcare context.

Duties of a Professional Holistic Nurse

Professional holistic nurses provide care that aligns with the principles of holistic nursing. They offer healthcare services with compassion, considering the whole person, including their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. Holistic nurses take various factors, such as lifestyle and diet, into account when assessing and impacting patient health. They engage patients in open conversations about their overall well-being.

History of Holistic Nursing

Holistic healthcare has evolved alongside medical science, recognizing the importance of nurses in advocating for patients and providing holistic care. The origins of holistic nursing trace back to ancient medical practices that relied on plants, herbs, and spiritual explanations for illness. However, the shift toward empirical and scientific medicine in the 17th century marginalized emotional, spiritual, and psychological aspects of health.

Florence Nightingale, a pioneer in nursing, played a crucial role in reviving holistic approaches to healthcare in the mid-19th century. Her emphasis on nursing ethics and sanitation significantly improved patient outcomes and reduced the spread of diseases like cholera. Holistic nursing continues to evolve, aligning with evidence-based scientific research.

Importance of Holistic Nursing

Holistic nursing is essential because it can elevate the standard of care for all patients. It offers a framework that considers the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of health, addressing the whole person. Recent research suggests that a sole reliance on conventional medical approaches can lead to increased risks, hospitalizations, and treatment costs. Holistic nursing promotes patient-centered care, better population health, effective preventive care, and a focus on treating patients with dignity and respect.

Benefits of Holistic Nursing

Holistic nursing benefits healthcare practitioners, patients, and healthcare systems alike. It promotes mental health care normalization, honors the body’s natural healing capacity, respects alternative healing practices and cultural norms, emphasizes preventive care, reduces the need for invasive surgeries, addresses health-related monetary and social obstacles, and encourages healthcare providers to treat patients as unique individuals.

Value-Based Nursing Education

Holistic nursing principles are integrated into nursing education to prepare students for compassionate and patient-centered care. Advanced nursing programs, such as Marymount University’s online Master of Science in Nursing for Family Nurse Practitioner program, teach students to provide care based on values. These programs focus on various aspects, including study and evaluation, leadership and advocacy, and providing caring support to patients.

In conclusion, holistic nursing is an approach to healthcare that considers the whole person, emphasizing prevention, and incorporating various healing systems. It has a rich history and offers numerous benefits, including better patient outcomes and a focus on compassionate care. Holistic nursing principles are increasingly integrated into nursing education to prepare future nurses for holistic and patient-centered care.