Holistic Nursing was established as official in 2007 by the ANA, or American Nurses Association. The job of holistic nurses is to look at each patient as a whole and comprehensively approach their care. When working to define a care or treatment plan, nurses will act with the patient’s body, spirit, socioeconomic background, environment, and culture in mind.
When comparing holistic nursing to traditional methods, the major difference lies in the patient care. The holistic nurse will form a relationship or a bond with their patients in order to promote healing and wellness in their journey towards better health. This form of nursing is largely based on the concept that a patient’s well-being is directly influenced by their social, psychological, spiritual, and biological aspects. Each person is different as are their needs for care, which is why the holistic nurse focuses on individuality and personal needs versus just the biological care a person requires.
What Responsibilities Are Assigned To Holistic Nurses?
A holistic nurse will bear many of the similar responsibilities that are given to a Registered nurse in the field. However, they will enhance patient care by ensuring that the patient is also comfortable and relaxed while receiving treatment. Whenever possible, holistic nurses will also avoid the use of drugs, instead opting to show higher levels of compassion, try relaxation techniques, and use positive imagery. In an official capacity, holistic nurses will do the following:
*Consider that each patient is a different and unique individual
*Acknowledge the whole person versus just the medical problem
*Keep their interactions with patients respectful and mindful
*Use open communication to assess patients in a holistic manner
*Identify stress points that may significantly cause a decline in a patient’s health
Holistic nurses will employ a number of different holistic methods to help treat patients. They use traditional healing treatments as well as holistic techniques to create a unique care plan. Treatments employed by holistic nurses may include things like:
*Aromatherapy and acupuncture
*Hypnosis and massage
*Eastern medicine
*Wellness coaching
*Hydrotherapy
Holistic nursing is defined mostly by the different approach it uses towards patient care. It treats using the belief that sickness and injury are often the result of a patient’s environment or experience. Where traditional medicine truly differs is that all forms of sickness are attributed to bacteria, viruses or genetic factors.
Why Is Holistic Nursing The Future Of Medicine?
Holistic nursing is becoming more popular and starting to gain widespread momentum, but by no means has it outperformed traditional nursing YET! The act of treating patients as a whole person versus a disarray of random symptoms is allowing people to not only improve their quality of life but help maintain health and prevent diseases from progressing. This form of care is essential in allowing patients to practice self-care first and foremost while actually witnessing the benefits of a new approach.
Mental health impacts a patient’s ability to heal and get well. Unfortunately, traditional medicine rarely cares about the thoughts and feelings that directly contribute to patients feeling ill. What makes holistic nursing so profound is its ability to treat a person as a whole and help reduce the stressors in a patient’s life that may serve as contributing factors to a decline in health.
The future of medicine is simply preventing health conditions and not just addressing them as they come up. The downside to traditional medicine is that it never cares about preventative care, but rather, it chooses to focus on a person after their health has significantly deteriorated. A holistic nurse takes measures to help patients prevent conditions from progressing or ever occurring in the first place. This, in turn, can prevent major disability or even death, both of which are a win-win situation for modern healthcare!
Over the years, more and more patients have started recognizing the advantages of taking a holistic approach to healthcare. This has helped increase interest in holistic nursing, and it’s a fact that one in three patients are now requesting holistic nurses. In order to remain effective, holistic and traditional medicine can co-exist effectively side-by-side. For Registered nurses wanting to do more for their patients, getting certification as a holistic nurse is a good place to start.
How To Become A Holistic Nurse
The Nurse Coach Collective can help Registered Nurses lead more fulfilling careers by allowing them to get certified in holistic nursing. This allows them to focus more on the level of care they provide patients versus the political red tape that often surrounds traditional medicine. Nationally Accredited, The Nurse Coach Collective is paving the way for a new generation of nurses! It’s a great way to prevent career exhaustion and offers a better approach to helping others. From expert mentorship to an ongoing supportive community, the program creates a safe space for nurses wanting more from their careers!
And if you want to learn more about how to preserve your health this summer, check out this article!