Considering the term “nursing care” is a complex work that helps the patient to continue his life activity until full recovery. Daily measurement of the main indicators of human vital activity: body temperature, pressure, pulse rate, respiration (Duncan 26). Holistic nursing has been persistent in its scope and innovation in addressing the human experience of health care delivery. This care has offered alternatives that but also consider and value the integrity of human beings and improve patient outcomes (Cowling).
Studying the term “holism” and “holistic nursing” turned out that in the 1980s, scientists actively researched this topic and wrote many different articles with judgments and development of the concept. It has been agreed by various scientists over the years that holistic care has a clear bearing on taking care of the individual not only on a physical but also on a spiritual level (Micozzi 6). Holistic nursing is a practical medicine that focuses on the mind, body, and spirit of the individual in interaction with the environment. Holistic nursing has been recognized by the American Nurses Association (ANA) as a specialty of nursing with a defined scope of practice and standards. Thus, this method is as effective as traditional medicine, which combines physical, mental, and social factors that affect a person.
The task of holistic nursing care is to coordinate scientific and non-scientific methods of therapy for various forms and variants of the course of chronic diseases. The six steps of the holistic care process occur simultaneously, including evaluation, diagnosis, outcomes, therapeutic care plan, implementation, and evaluation. Holistic medicine practitioners believe that the whole person is made up of interconnected parts and if one part does not work properly, all other parts will be affected. This therapy focuses on mind, body and spirit working together and how spiritual awareness in nursing can help heal illness. Holistic medicine focuses on maintaining optimal well-being and prevention, not just treating disease. Thus, if people have an imbalance (physical, emotional, or spiritual) in their lives, it can negatively impact their overall health (Micozzi 8). A holistic nurse can use all forms of medical care, such as conventional medications or alternative therapies.
Among the most common methods of treatment of holistic medicine are acupuncture (impact on human organs and systems with the help of special needles through acupuncture points. Including a traditional Chinese method.); homeopathy (restoration of mobility of the spine and joints, relaxation of the surrounding muscle tissues); naturopathy (the use of various plants for medicinal purposes); reflexotherapy (an effect on the nerve endings on the foot for the purpose of treating diseased organs associated with them); diet; exercise; leeching therapy (treats leeches, or rather, its saliva, which contains more than a hundred bioactive drugs). It is worth noting that many of these methods have even received official status today.
In summary, holistic nursing care is an alternative therapy, this method will never replace traditional medicine. Treatment is about removing the cause of the disease, not just relieving the symptoms. The fact is that in this direction depends on the person himself. Holistic medicine has a wide range of effects on the human body as a complex system. However, this cannot be considered a panacea for all diseases. It is necessary to consider each specific case separately because the factors and causes of the disease are always different.
Works Cited
Cowling, Richard. ” Where Is Holistic Nursing?” Journal of Holistic Nursing, vol. 36, no. 1, 2018, pp. 4-5.
Duncan, Deborah. “Consultation Skills.”General Practice Nursing: Foundational Principles, edited by Deborah Duncan, M&K Update Ltd, 2019, pp. 26-34.
Micozzi, Marc S. Fundamentals of Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine, Elsevier Health Sciences, 2018.
Noreen Cavan, Frisch, and Rabinowitsch David. “What’s in Definition? Holistic Nursing, Integrative Health Care, and Integrative Nursing: Report of an Integrated Literature Review.” Journal of Holistic Nursing, vol. 37, no. 3, 2019, pp. 260–272.