Holistic Nursing Essay

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Through utilizing these practices, holistic nurses have the unique opportunity to lead the way in designing new methodologies of care that impact and thwart disease, address healthcare needs of diverse populations, and deliver empathetic relationship-centered care (Hines, 2012). Consideration of alternative therapies, in collaboration with patients and other healthcare professionals, is a right afforded to patients that will promote autonomy and individualization of care all the while improving relations between patients and providers.
Putting this into perspective, “one-third of adults have used some form of CAM” according to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (as cited in Barnes et al., 2008, p. 2). Keeping this statistic in mind, federal law currently dictates standard practices in upholding patient’s rights. Many states have enacted additional laws and hospitals maintain their own patient bill of rights identified upon admission to their facilities. One important right emphasized is a patient’s right to informed consent in regards to treatment options (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2016). Under the muse of informed consent, CAM options should also be included in the discussion prior to the patient making a decision regarding treatment. In aligning these ideals, nurses’ stand at the forefront in advocating for patients’ rights as they can
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Delineation as a specialty clearly defines this practice to other healthcare professionals and to the public. The importance of holistic nursing care, although not new, is coming to the forefront of healthcare due in part to the renewed focus on health promotion and wellness initiatives. In relation to nursing care, the basis of the holistic approach is instrumental in helping patients maintain a life-style

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