If you’re a nurse looking to provide a more comprehensive and compassionate care experience to your patients, holistic nursing may be the perfect approach. Holistic nursing focuses on treating the entire person, not just their illness or injury.
Let’s take a closer look at holistic nursing, explore what it is and how to use it to provide the best possible care for your patients.
Understanding holistic nursing
Holistic nursing is an evidence-based practice that considers the whole person, including their physical, spiritual, emotional and mental health needs.
This holistic approach recognizes the importance of each person’s unique experience and seeks to provide comprehensive care to optimize their well-being.
If you are interested in becoming a holistic nurse, the University of Indianapolis offers an accelerated online nursing program. Their program nurtures an inclusive and diverse community of students and faculty committed to promoting personal, professional and societal change.
It also provides a clinical placement department for graduates, which assists them with job placement opportunities and access to industry professionals from top hospitals.
The main principles of holistic nursing
Holistic nursing is a practice that integrates whole-person care with the philosophy of natural healing and the integration of mind, body and spirit. Here are the five main principles of practicing holistic nursing:
Preceptorship
The preceptor acts as a guide and mentor for aspiring holistic nurses to assist in their career choice and facilitate their educational journey. They help the holistic nurse gather information, develop a plan and organize resources to maximize their education.
Patient-centered care
All healthcare team members, such as nurses or physicians, should learn about each patient’s lifestyle and preferences to best meet their health needs. The concepts of patient-centered care include, but are not limited to, confidentiality and informed consent.
Team approach
The holistic health team members should work together to address a patient’s individualized needs in a coordinated way to promote optimal patient outcomes.
The primary focus of the holistic health team is to implement patient-centered, comprehensive care that includes coordination.
Additionally, team members should collaborate in their approach toward effective practice delivery and holistic health service delivery.
On-going education and learning
The holistic nurse should take continuing education courses to stay abreast of the best care practices in the field. Holistic nursing has a built-in opportunity for lifelong learning, leading to better patient results.
Feedback and evaluation
The holistic nurse should reflect on the results of their care and continuously evaluate their practices. They should seek feedback from patients, family members, colleagues and other healthcare professionals to ensure they are proficient in meeting patient needs.
Final thoughts
The role of holistic care is to address the needs of the whole person through the healthcare delivery system. Holistic nursing embraces the benefits and risks of an altered patient/healthcare experience, integrating social and environmental factors with clinical decision-making.
Traditionally, holistic nurses have worked through a team approach to care that seeks to optimize outcomes while minimizing utilization and treatment costs. Holistic nursing might be the right path if you are interested in a career focusing on your strengths, values and beliefs.