Holistic Nursing
Your statement regarding nurse practitioner’s having a more holistic view of a patient based on the patient-centered care model that is taught really jumped out at me. Merriam-Webster defines holistic as relating to or concerned with wholes or with complete systems rather than with the analysis of, treatment of, or dissection into parts (Merriam-Webster, 2015). With a little research, I discovered that there is, in fact, an American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) that was established in 1981. The AHNA strives to lead holistic nursing by assisting, teaching and research. The AHNA imagines a world where we, as nurses, care for the entirety of a person to influence healing and peace. Holistic nursing was accepted as a nursing specialty
by the American Nurses Association in 2006 and even awards certifications through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (American Holistic Nurses Association, 2016).
One of the founders of the AHNA, Barbara Dossey, developed the Theory of Integral Nursing. Interestingly, her theory encompasses Carper’s theory, Fundamental Patterns of Knowing in Nursing, and Wilber’s Integral Theory, to explain her idea for global health and healing. She proposes putting the science and art of nursing into action; starting with each nurse understanding his/herself as a whole entity and how he/she relates that knowledge of self to the care he/she gives each patient. The more we as nurses know and understand our unique individual selves, the more healing is able to take place in our own lives. In turn, we are able to better share our knowledge and expertise to bring healing to our patients (Dossey, 2008).
by the American Nurses Association in 2006 and even awards certifications through the American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation (American Holistic Nurses Association, 2016).
One of the founders of the AHNA, Barbara Dossey, developed the Theory of Integral Nursing. Interestingly, her theory encompasses Carper’s theory, Fundamental Patterns of Knowing in Nursing, and Wilber’s Integral Theory, to explain her idea for global health and healing. She proposes putting the science and art of nursing into action; starting with each nurse understanding his/herself as a whole entity and how he/she relates that knowledge of self to the care he/she gives each patient. The more we as nurses know and understand our unique individual selves, the more healing is able to take place in our own lives. In turn, we are able to better share our knowledge and expertise to bring healing to our patients (Dossey, 2008).