Characteristic Nursing: The Definition Of Holistic Nursing

Holistic nursing is defined as an “all nursing practice that has healing the whole person as its goal” (American Holistic Nurses Association, 1998). Holistic nursing focuses on protecting, promoting, and optimizing health and wellness and preventing illness and injury at the same time reducing suffering and supporting people to find peace, comfort and balance through their illness. (The holistic nursing: scope and standard of nursing 2007)

Holistic nursing also recognizes holism. According to American Holistic Nurses, 1994 “holism involves studying and understanding the interrelationship of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual dimensions of the person recognizes that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; and that holism involves understanding

The core values describe a diversity of nursing activities in which holistic nurses are involved. They are based on the philosophy is an art and science for which the primary purpose is to provide services that enable individuals, families and communities to achieve wholeness. The core values of holistic nursing are 1.philosophy theory and ethics, 2.Holistic caring process, 3. Holistic communication, 4.therapeutic environment and cultural diversity, 5. Holistic education and research and 6. Holistic nurse self-care. (Jones and Bartlett 2nd edition

It is important for holistic nurses to recognize that they cannot facilitate healing unless they are in the process of healing themselves. The World Health Organization defines self-care as "activities individuals, families, and communities undertake with the intention of enhancing health, preventing disease, limiting illness, and restoring health. These activities are derived from knowledge and skills from the pool of both professional and lay experience. They are undertaken by lay people on their own behalf, either separately or in participative col-laboration with professionals." (World Health Organization (1983). Holistic nurses val-ue themselves and mobilize the necessary resources to care for themselves. They en-deavour to integrate self-awareness, self-care and self-healing by engaging in practices such as self-assessment, meditation, yoga, good nutrition, movement, art, support and lifelong learning. They strive to achieve balance and harmony in their own life and help others do the same.(AHNA scope and Standards of Practice, Core Value 5,