Holistic Nursing

This ideal way of caring for the entire person, not just their physical body, is one that dates back to Florence Nightingale herself. She emphasized the connection between patients and their environment, she is considered one of the first holistic nurses. Nursing has come a long way since the days of Florence Nightingale and her pioneering actions. As nurses we must be knowledgeable about how diseases affect our patients. Due to the high patient load and often intense time constraints placed on nurses, it can be easy to simply treat the physical being and move on to the next patient. It is important to care for the whole person and to see them as just that. Holistic nursing care involves healing the mind, body, and soul of our patients. It involves thinking about and assisting patients with the effects of illness on the body, mind, emotions, spirituality, religion, and personal relationships. Holistic care also involves taking into consideration social and cultural differences and preferences. The speaker will elaborate on the care of the patient and also demonstrate that nursing care of each patient should be individualized. As nurses we can not only use holistic nursing care to enrich the lives of our patients, but to enrich our own lives as well. It is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining the nurses at times. One way to increase these experiences and provide better overall care to our patients is through holistic nursing care. The key is not necessarily about how long you spent interacting with a patient, but how you used the time you had with them. The quote: “They may not remember your name, but they will remember how you made them feel” is a true effect of holistic patient care, and the speaker will stipulate why Holistic nurses are often described by patients as those nurses that “truly care.”

Author(s): Loendivd Westhuizeen

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