Importance And Importance Of Holistic Care

One method of assessment used is a holistic approach. To assess an individual in a holistic manner is to see that individual for more than just their functioning body,

The evaluation of the nursing process is demonstrating the understanding of how to asses a patients overall life by using the 6 holistic approaches towards nursing which are; social, cultural, spiritual, developmental, physical and psychological. The 6 holistic approaches towards nursing are used for the nursing assessment phase within the nursing process to identify all key aspects of assessment and the skill of not just assessing someone on their physical wounds but also their wounds you as a healthcare worker may be unable to identify visually. The National Board of Nursing and Midwifery explains that all nurses and midwives are responsible for a patient’s level of care whether it be physically or any other 5 of the holistic approach to the nursing assessment (NMBA, 2006). Using the holistic approach towards nursing assessment doesn’t necessarily mean that the health care worker has to formally write down a nursing assessment it can simply be done when a healthcare worker is washing a patient, feeding a patient, giving medication and more, this is why a nursing assessment using the holistic approach is the most effective way to conduct a nursing assessment.

Enabling choice of specific care and services to meet the patient’s health and social care needs and preferences. 4 Providing information that is tailored to each person to assist him or her in making decisions based on the best evidence available. Assisting patients to interpret technical information, evidence and complex concepts and helping them to understand their options and consequences of this, while accessing support from other health and social care experts. 4 Supporting the person to assert his or her choices. If the individual is unable to do this for him or herself, then the nursing team or an appointed formal advocate would present and pursue the person’s stated wishes. 4 Ongoing evaluation to ascertain that care and services continue to be appropriate for each person. This involves encouraging, listening to and acting on feedback from patients and service users.

Nursing process is a systematic process that involves a continuous cycle of five interrelated phases: holistic assessment of a client, nursing diagnoses, nursing care planning, implementation, and evaluation (Wilkinson et al. 2015). It enables nurses to assess the person’s health status and health care needs, to create plans to meet the identified needs, and to provide and evaluate individualised nursing interventions according to the person’s needs (Luxford 2015). The holistic assessment is the first step of the nursing process that includes the collection of subjective and objective data related to the physical, psychological, social, developmental, cultural, and spiritual status of a client (Wilkinson et al. 2015). This comprehensive approach to nursing assessment is essential because it allows nurses to comprehend not only clients’ health status, but also their routines and needs in order to incorporate their life-styles into the care interventions (Luxford 2015). It ultimately enables nurses to provide appropriate quality person-centred care rather than nurse-initiated care (Luxford 2015). Responsibility for holistic nursing assessment is supported by the Registered nurse standards for practice (2016), ‘Standard 4.1: The registered nurse conducts assessments that are holistic as well as culturally appropriate’ (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia [NMBA] 2016, p. 4). This essay will discuss the elements and the importance of holistic assessment in nursing.

Health is not limited to a physical illness that can be cured or alleviated but must encompass the entire individual. It includes spiritual, emotional, social, mental and physical aspects of the individual. All of these areas must be assessed and evaluated when caring or a patient and their families (Chitty, 2007, p. 303).

Holistic means looking at a situation as a whole and not just part of it. The holistic approach is paramount in driving forward the way service users are assessed and implementing the planning for a robust care and support

These different needs could be race, age, physical health, mental health, gender, sexual orientation, beliefs and creeds.

Holistic needs/approach mean’s looking at the whole person or situation. This means recognising that all parts of someone’s life will have an impact on care and support needs and preferences. It will also put people’s achievements into the proper perspective. The factors of a person’s Well-being would be there physical and mental health, emotional and intellectual fulfilment, and overall contentment. It would be about meeting different kinds of needs from physical needs like food and shelter through intellectual fulfilment. Only when someone has their needs met are they likely to feel contented and happy with their lives.

Holistic assessments in nursing provide a unique quality of care to the individual patient. Holism in the provision of care includes assessments obtaining data about the physiological, psychological, sociological, spiritual, developmental, cultural and environmental aspects. It is imperative that the nurse conducting these assessments adopts methods in the nursing process that reflects the standards outlined in Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse to ensure the health and wellbeing of the patient is maximized and maintained throughout the time health care is received. Nursing processes are directed at restoring overall harmony for the patient therefore an understanding of the

An aspect of care is the lay believes of people. Naidoo. J, Wills. J. (2009) Lay concept of heath is the obvious views of health which are passed from one person to each other through culture and socialising and other people from different areas and ages won’t be the same. It is the views and opinions of what health is to the general public, these can differ depending on gender, age and social class. According to, Scriven, A., Ewles, Linda, & Dawson Books. (2011.). Lay concept is different, though it follows the same bases as Naidoo and et ideas, It is how the public view health, but recognises it is different such as social status, gender, age making differences on lives and people may sacrifices other values of health to make other aspects feel better. The professional concepts are people working in health care; they are focussed on being objective. Examine current conditions of the person’s health, then create a care plan and proceed to treatment for patient. Health professionals may not see lay beliefs as having the same validity as medical information or even inconvenient. It is necessary to respect the concept,

Nursing is about providing the best possible holistic care for the patient and family. At the same time there’s an imbalance of patient care regarding education and knowledge being provided by nurses. As a nurse I believe we all owe it to ourselves, the profession, and the patient to provide the best possible care. According to American Nurses Association (ANA) online article “Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.” In order to better achieve the nursing ideals of the American Nurses Association we must improve patient care by requiring hospital nurses to become BSN nurses.

Kaakinen et al (2015) discusses the two types of health care teams that will be involved in the patient’s care: multiprofessional and interprofessional. The multiprofessional model is an older model that does not focus on holistic care. Care is fragmented with an autocratic leader, vertical communication, separate goals of the professionals involved, and families are peripheral to the process (Kaakinen et al., 2015). The preferred model is the interprofessional model emphasizing a team approach, holistic care of the patient, horizontal communication, and involvement of the family (Kaakinen et al., 2015). The nurse should keep this collaborative approach in mind when dealing with any patient case, involving all teams associated with the patient for the best outcome.

Calder argues ‘…the importance of providing such services for a family who may conceal or minimise their difficulties’ (2008) implies that an holistic way of working with families who are experiencing significant and complex difficulties is the most effective approach for social workers. This holistic approach would consist of assessing and addressing the needs of the children and adults in the family, ensuring that support provided is coordinated, dependable and focused on building a professional relationship that is educative and one that provides timely practical help. Child Protection interacts frequently across child-focused services such as child and adolescent mental health services and education (REF). However, relationships and discussion

The World Health Organisation defined health: “State of complete physical and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity” (WHO, 1946 p.100). Many factors influence health such as family traits, behaviours, access to quality healthcare and environment (quality of air, bad/good water and housing conditions) (WHO, 1946). The holistic view of health combines the mind (mental), body (physical), emotional and spiritual elements to a person (Ewes & Simnett, 2003).

A holistic approach to care integrates client’s physical, psychological, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual needs. It is a whole body approach connecting the body, mind and spirt to enhance the client’s quality of life. The goal is to promote client’s self-esteem and self-care.