Holistic approach to care
The objective of this assignment is to evaluate Holistic care approaches used in healthcare within the acute care setting specifically relating to the role of Assistant Practitioners.
Holistic care takes into consideration an individual’s psychological, sociological and mental health needs. Using a holistic approach to care enhances the experience for my patients and families (Erickson 2007). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2010) defines holistic medicine as a system of comprehensive or total patient care that considers the physical, emotional, social, economic and spiritual needs of the person, taking into consideration a person as a whole. Over the past few decades the focus of medical care has shifted from treatment of a disease and or injury to treatment of a patient (Henning, 2013).
Holism has a long history derived from a Greek-indo -European root holos or hale, meaning whole, healthy, healing, holy and the act of caring (Auyang,1999). The first published literature in relation to holistic care was produced by Florence Nightingale in her book Notes on Nursing, which described the work of nurses as putting patients in the best condition for nature to act upon them (Nightingale, F 1969). However the concept of holism was first defined by polymath Jan Smuts in 1927, as the tendency in nature to form wholes that are greater than the sum of the parts through creative evolution (Smuts. 1927).
Different theories on holism have been widely supported and promoted in healthcare since the 1960's, when Florence Nightingale first identified the importance of treating patients individually, as opposed to solely treating the illness (Dossey & Keegan 2009). However this concept is new in Emergency medicine, and has been derived from the recent conflict in Afghanistan. The Army pain management task force published best practice based on a holistic, multidisciplinary, integrative approach to care (Schoolmaker, 2009). The Nursing Midwifery council (2008) states
Holistic care takes into consideration an individual’s psychological, sociological and mental health needs. Using a holistic approach to care enhances the experience for my patients and families (Erickson 2007). The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2010) defines holistic medicine as a system of comprehensive or total patient care that considers the physical, emotional, social, economic and spiritual needs of the person, taking into consideration a person as a whole. Over the past few decades the focus of medical care has shifted from treatment of a disease and or injury to treatment of a patient (Henning, 2013).
Holism has a long history derived from a Greek-indo -European root holos or hale, meaning whole, healthy, healing, holy and the act of caring (Auyang,1999). The first published literature in relation to holistic care was produced by Florence Nightingale in her book Notes on Nursing, which described the work of nurses as putting patients in the best condition for nature to act upon them (Nightingale, F 1969). However the concept of holism was first defined by polymath Jan Smuts in 1927, as the tendency in nature to form wholes that are greater than the sum of the parts through creative evolution (Smuts. 1927).
Different theories on holism have been widely supported and promoted in healthcare since the 1960's, when Florence Nightingale first identified the importance of treating patients individually, as opposed to solely treating the illness (Dossey & Keegan 2009). However this concept is new in Emergency medicine, and has been derived from the recent conflict in Afghanistan. The Army pain management task force published best practice based on a holistic, multidisciplinary, integrative approach to care (Schoolmaker, 2009). The Nursing Midwifery council (2008) states