The Role Of A Holistic Nurse In Patient Care

Misti Gerold on November 8, 2022

Many people do not know what holistic nursing entails. However, it is quite simple to understand. Holistic nursing is quite different from the traditional form of nursing we are accustomed to and comes with many benefits worth highlighting. While the goal of conventional nursing practice is healing the patient’s mind and body, holistic nursing care encompasses more than that.

This article discusses holistic care and what you should know about the profession.

The Meaning Of Holistic Care

In simple words, holistic care is a medical profession that aims to heal a patient by ensuring the body, mind, spirit, and emotion are in perfect condition and the patient responds better to their environment. Holistic nurses have been equipped with therapeutic skills and knowledge to care for their patients. Ultimately, holistic nursing believes that a patient’s mental health influences their overall wellness.

How Holistic Nurses Take Care Of Patients

Holistic nurses, sometimes known as complementary health nurses, rely on alternative medical treatment to heal their patients. Sometimes, they can apply holistic nursing and conventional treatment methods to treat the patient. Examples of holistic treatment methods include hypnosis, acupuncture, massage, wellness coaching, eastern medicine, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, etc.

The Difference Between Holistic Nursing Care And Conventional Medicine

It is key to note that holistic nursing and conventional Western medicine apply different philosophies, diagnosis practices, and treatment methods. The main focus of traditional medicine is fighting viruses and bacteria and improving genetics. On the other hand, holistic nursing pays attention to a patient’s experiences and the environment when treating a medical condition or an injury.

Conventional Treatment

Traditional treatment methods’ main goal is matching a patient’s symptoms to an already determined list of illnesses or conditions to make a diagnosis. Using diagnostic tools, the medical expert identifies the cause of the illness and administers an efficient treatment to the patient. Generally, the patient is treated using drugs and other medical equipment.

Holistic Nursing Care

A holistic nurse begins by consulting the patient to hear their opinions and preferred way of undergoing certain treatment methods before it is administered. After a patient has been diagnosed with a specific condition, the nurse may pay attention to the healing process rather than the illness itself. Holistic treatment methods may include regular exercises, changes in diet, herbs, meditation, reflexology, homeopathy, and biofeedback.

The Different Features Of Holistic Nursing Care

Holistic nursing care can focus on the effect of factors separately and not simply the illness or diagnosis likely to help or influence the attainment of the anticipated outcome.

For instance, the holistic treatment administered during palliative care may involve the medical professional using the patient’s age as a basis for recommending the best form of comfort care if the patient is physically disabled or struggling with age-related problems.

The different features of this holistic nursing care are:

#1. Treating The Patient As A Whole

Apart from age, a patient’s religious and cultural beliefs can be exploited to accelerate the healing process. For example, a patient with strong, faith-based values on self-care can benefit from a treatment plan that involves activities they relish to take part in for their faith.

Also, it can help to consider a patient’s socio-economic profile when evaluating the needs of an individual. For example, financial pressure to offset medical bills can affect a patient’s mental health; the individual may develop anxiety or depression because of the financial implications of a certain approach to patient care. Luckily, holistic nurses understand the need to treat a patient as a whole, including the individual’s lifestyle and financial position.

#2. The Patient’s Family Dynamics

A holistic nurse has been trained on how to study and understand the role of family values and dynamics when developing the ideal care plan for the recovering individual.

To learn about an individual’s family relations, you must have active communication skills and respect for other people’s beliefs and customs, even when they differ from yours. Upon understanding an individual’s family setting, a holistic nurse can determine how this aspect of life will influence a patient’s treatment and recovery journey.

#3. The Patient’s Environment

So as to develop an effective care plan, a holistic nurse is interested in knowing the conditions of where the patient lives or spends most of their time. The holistic nurse must ensure the patient abodes in an organized and clean environment and that the personal care items are maintained and used appropriately.

Individuals with functional mobility issues or declining cognitive ability require environments with sufficient food, water, fresh air, lighting, etc.

#4. The Patient’s Community

A patient’s family is just as important as the patient’s community. An individual’s community may include people with shared hobbies, places of worship, or other social interests. In addition, a patient’s community can be local, in-person, virtual, or distant.

In holistic nursing care, the medical expert must evaluate and understand the patient’s community and its influence on the individual’s recovery journey.