Holistic Care

DR. ALI D. ABBAS/ INSTRUCTOR, FUNDAMENTALS OF NURSING DEPARTMENT, COLLEGE OF NURSING,

UNIVERSITY OF BAGHDAD, ALIDUKHAN@UOB.EDU.IQ
 As a nurse, you will be a professional
caregiver. Your intimate contact with clients allows
you the opportunity not only to provide physical and
emotional support but also to teach ways to take an
active role in maintaining health.
 Interrelated Concepts. 1
of Health
Health is "the condition of being sound in body, mind, or
spirit" (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2008).
The WHO defines health as follows: "Health is a
state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity" (WHO, 1974).
Health refers to the total well-being of the whole person.
(Telstar Innovations, Inc., 2000).
 Holistic is a term derived from the Greek word holes, meaning "whole." Holistic
health views the physical, intellectual, sociocultural, psychological, and spiritual aspects of
a person's life as an integrated whole. These five aspects cannot be separated or isolated;
anything that affects one aspect of a person's life also affects the other aspects.

Healing means to be or become whole. It is a state of harmony or balance in

the body, mind, and spirit connection. (Quinn, 2005)

Homeostasis is the balance or stability that the body strives to achieve

among these aspects of a person's life by continuous adaptation.
 The goal of holistic nursing is
the "enhancement of healing the whole person
from birth to death" (American Holistic Nurses
Association [AHNA], 2004).
 The AHNA supports the belief that health involves the
harmonious balance of body, mind, emotions, and spirit
within an ever-changing environment.

The NIH defines holistic care as care that "considers the

whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and
spiritual aspects.
Among the holistic modalities most frequently
used in nursing are the following:
Biofeedback
Exercise and movement
Goal setting
Humor and laughter
Imagery
Journaling
Massage
Play therapy
Prayer
Therapeutic touch
 The holistic nurse is "an instrument of healing
and a facilitator in the healing process (AHNA,
2004). By does the following:

Demonstrates awareness that self-healing is a continual process

Is familiar with self-development
Recognizes personal strengths and weaknesses
Models self-care
Demonstrates awareness that personal presence is as important as technical skills
Respects and loves clients
Presumes that clients know the best life choices
Guides clients in discovering creative options
Listens actively
Shares insights without imposing personal values and beliefs
Accepts client input without judgment
Views time spent with clients as an opportunity to serve and share (adapted from Dossey, 1998)
 Wellness is a responsibility, a choice, a
lifestyle design that helps maintain the
highest potential for personal health (Hill &
Howlett, 2005).
The health continuum is a way to visualize
the range of an individual's health, from highest health
. potential to death
Abraham Maslow
developed a theory
of behavioral
motivation based on
needs. This theory is
often referred to as
Mallow's
Hierarchy of
. Needs
 Providing Quality. 2
Care
. The first step in providing quality client care is to be aware of yourself
? What kind of personality do you have
Is your self-concept positive, or do you have self-doubts and lack self-
? confidence
? What are your beliefs and attitudes
.Knowing the answers to such questions will help you in your role as caregiver
. The next step is taking care of your own needs
When you attend to the needs in your own life, you are then free to
concentrate on caring for others. Your example of self-care inspires
clients to have confidence that you will provide quality care. Thus,
.self-care is a factor in your effectiveness as a caregiver
 Self-awareness is consciously knowing how the
self thinks, feels, believes, and behaves at any specific time.
Being self-aware is a constant process that is focused on the
present. A person's thoughts, feelings, and beliefs are
interrelated and greatly influence behavior. Being self-aware
influences a person in several ways.
 For example, experienced nursesare often anxious about
caring for a specific client. By taking some time to practice self-
awareness, the nurse might discover that the anxiety stems from
never having performed the procedure in question. The nurse can
then deal directly with the situation by reviewing the procedure
and requesting assistance from an instructor or supervisor.
All decisions about client care must
be made in response to the client's
needs, not the nurse's needs.
 Self-concept is how a person thinks or feels
about himself. These thoughts and feelings come from
the experiences the person has with others and reflect
how the person thinks others view him.
 For example, an individual who is constantly ignored or who receives
messages such as "Don't bother me," "Can't you do anything right?" or "You
don't have any sense" may very well begin to view himself in these terms, with
the likely result being a negative self-concept. On the other hand, a person
who is shown caring and who hears messages such as "Let me help you in a
minute," "Let's try it this way," or "Have you thought about ... ?" will move
toward a positive self-concept.
 Self-Care as a Prerequisite. 3
to client care
Physical wellness refers to a healthy body that functions at an optimal
level. To achieve physical wellness, a person must practice:
Grooming
Body Mechanics
Posture
Smoking
Drugs and Alcohol
Nutrition
Sleep, Rest, Relaxation, and Exercise
 Intellectual wellness is the ability to function as an inde
pendent person capable of making sound decisions. Such decisions are based
on the individual's needs but at the same time take into account the needs of
others. Clear thinking, problem-solving skills, good judgment, and the desire to
continually learn are all qualities found in the person who is intellectually well.
 Sociocultural wellness is the ability to appreciate
the needs of others and to care about one's environment and the
inhabitants of it. As a nurse, you will care for clients of all ages and
races who speak different languages and come from various
cultural groups.
 Psychological wellness encompasses the
enjoyment of creativity, the satisfaction of the basic need to
love and be loved, the understanding of emotions, and the
ability to maintain control over emotions.
 Spiritual wellness manifests as inner strength
and peace.
Spirituality is a broad concept incorporating more
than a client's religious affiliation. It encompasses the beliefs
that a person has that give meaning and purpose to their
existence (Fitchett, 2002).