Holistic nursing: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:25, 15 February 2025

An approach to nursing that considers the whole person

Overview[edit]

Holistic nursing is a practice of nursing that focuses on healing the whole person. This approach to nursing considers the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of a patient's well-being. Holistic nurses integrate traditional nursing practices with complementary and alternative therapies to promote optimal health and wellness.

Principles of Holistic Nursing[edit]

Holistic nursing is grounded in several key principles:

Whole Person Care: Holistic nurses view patients as whole beings, not just a set of symptoms or diseases. They consider all aspects of a person's life and health.
Patient-Centered Care: The patient's needs, preferences, and values are central to the care process. Holistic nurses work collaboratively with patients to develop personalized care plans.
Healing Environments: Creating a supportive and healing environment is essential. This includes physical spaces as well as emotional and spiritual support.
Self-Care: Holistic nurses emphasize the importance of self-care for both patients and healthcare providers. They encourage practices that promote balance and well-being.

Holistic Nursing Interventions[edit]

Holistic nurses may use a variety of interventions to support healing, including:

Therapeutic Touch: A technique used to promote relaxation and reduce pain by balancing the body's energy fields.
Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils to enhance physical and emotional well-being.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices that help patients focus on the present moment and reduce stress.
Nutrition and Lifestyle Counseling: Guidance on healthy eating and lifestyle choices to support overall health.

Education and Certification[edit]

Holistic nursing requires specialized education and training. Nurses can pursue certification through organizations such as the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA). Certification demonstrates a commitment to holistic principles and practices.

Related pages[edit]

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-'''Holistic nursing''' is a specialized field of [[nursing]] that focuses on the integration of the whole person, recognizing the interconnectedness of body, mind, emotion, spirit, social/cultural, relationship, context, and environment. It is rooted in the philosophy of [[holism]], which emphasizes the need to look at the whole person, including analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and lifestyle values.
+{{Short description|An approach to nursing that considers the whole person}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-== History ==
+==Overview==
+[[File:Eucalyp-Deus_Nurse.png|thumb|right|A holistic nurse providing care]]
+'''Holistic nursing''' is a practice of nursing that focuses on healing the whole person. This approach to nursing considers the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of a patient's well-being. Holistic nurses integrate traditional nursing practices with complementary and alternative therapies to promote optimal health and wellness.
-The concept of holistic nursing has been around for centuries, but it was not until the late 20th century that it began to gain recognition as a distinct nursing specialty. The [[American Holistic Nurses Association]] (AHNA) was founded in 1981 to serve as a voice for these nurses and to promote the education of nurses and others in this philosophy.
+==Principles of Holistic Nursing==
+Holistic nursing is grounded in several key principles:
-== Principles ==
+* '''Whole Person Care''': Holistic nurses view patients as whole beings, not just a set of symptoms or diseases. They consider all aspects of a person's life and health.
+* '''Patient-Centered Care''': The patient's needs, preferences, and values are central to the care process. Holistic nurses work collaboratively with patients to develop personalized care plans.
+* '''Healing Environments''': Creating a supportive and healing environment is essential. This includes physical spaces as well as emotional and spiritual support.
+* '''Self-Care''': Holistic nurses emphasize the importance of self-care for both patients and healthcare providers. They encourage practices that promote balance and well-being.
-Holistic nursing is based on a set of guiding principles that direct the approach to patient care. These principles include:
+==Holistic Nursing Interventions==
+Holistic nurses may use a variety of interventions to support healing, including:
-* '''[[Holism]]''': This principle is the foundation of holistic nursing. It recognizes that each person is a unique individual and that all aspects of their being are interconnected.
+* '''Therapeutic Touch''': A technique used to promote relaxation and reduce pain by balancing the body's energy fields.
+* '''Aromatherapy''': The use of essential oils to enhance physical and emotional well-being.
+* '''Mindfulness and Meditation''': Practices that help patients focus on the present moment and reduce stress.
+* '''Nutrition and Lifestyle Counseling''': Guidance on healthy eating and lifestyle choices to support overall health.
-* '''[[Healing]]''': Holistic nursing focuses on promoting health and wellness, rather than just treating illness. This includes using a variety of [[alternative therapies]] and treatments.
+==Education and Certification==
+Holistic nursing requires specialized education and training. Nurses can pursue certification through organizations such as the [[American Holistic Nurses Association]] (AHNA). Certification demonstrates a commitment to holistic principles and practices.
-* '''[[Relationship-centered care]]''': This principle emphasizes the importance of the relationship between the nurse and the patient. It recognizes that this relationship is a critical component of the healing process.
-* '''[[Integrative care]]''': This principle recognizes the value of integrating traditional medical treatments with alternative or complementary therapies.
-== Practice ==
-Holistic nurses use a variety of treatment modalities in their practice. These can include:
-* '''[[Mind-body therapies]]''': These therapies, such as meditation and yoga, are used to help patients manage stress and promote relaxation.
-* '''[[Nutritional counseling]]''': Holistic nurses may provide guidance on diet and nutrition to support overall health.
-* '''[[Herbal medicine]]''': Some holistic nurses use herbs as part of their treatment plan.
-* '''[[Energy therapies]]''': These therapies, such as Reiki and therapeutic touch, are used to balance the body's energy fields.
-== Education and Certification ==
-To become a holistic nurse, one must first become a registered nurse (RN). After gaining experience as an RN, a nurse can then choose to specialize in holistic nursing. The [[American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation]] (AHNCC) provides certification for holistic nurses.
-== See Also ==
+==Related pages==
 * [[Nursing]]
-* [[Alternative medicine]]
 * [[Complementary and alternative medicine]]
-* [[Mind-body interventions]]
+* [[Patient-centered care]]
-* [[Energy medicine]]
+* [[Mindfulness]]
-[[Category:Nursing specialties]]
+[[Category:Nursing]]
-[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
 [[Category:Holistic health]]
-{{Nursing-stub}}
-{{Medicine-stub}}