Holistic Nursing
Definition of Holistic Nursing
Nursing does not only involve physical, mental, and emotional health; it also considers the patient’s spiritual wellness. Holistic nursing is a practice that promotes health and disease prevention by linking healing with the patient’s faith and spiritual belief (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2017). Holistic nurses work alongside individuals, families, and communities to provide their services. These specialty nurses consider their patient’s bodies, minds, spirits, cultures, and environments in their plan of care. While these nurses can perform the same duties as other nurses, they focus on making patients feel comfortable and relaxed. Holistic nurses treat their patients include acupuncture, eastern medicine, hypnosis, massage, wellness coaching, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy (Northestern State University, 2017). Holistic nurses focus on the healing process rather than the condition itself. Unlike traditional Western medicine, holistic nurses incorporate dietary changes, herbs, exercise, meditation, and guided imagery in their care for their patients (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2017).
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of treatment performed by a certified practitioner in which thin needles are inserted through the skin at specific points in the body. This procedure is commonly used in the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese medicine. This medical practice believes this technique helps balance energy flow by inserting these needles to re-balance energy flow (Chen et al., 2017). On the other hand, Western medicine practitioners believe in acupuncture as a form of stimulation for nerves, muscles, and connective tissues to stimulate natural painkillers in the body to aid in pain relief. Acupuncture is commonly used to relieve discomfort in certain conditions such as headaches, neck pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, asthma, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Acupuncture has also been beneficial in various seizures by improving the electroencephalogram and symptoms associated with the condition (Chen et al., 2017).
Primary Goals of Screening
Regarding case number three, the patient has a medical history of seizures. Healthcare professionals use many different diagnostic methods to help in the diagnosis process of this condition. First, clinical manifestations, medical history, neurological assessment, and blood tests help healthcare professionals diagnose (Mariann M. Harding et al., 2019). Other tests, such as an electroencephalogram (EEG), computerized tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are ordered (Mariann M. Harding et al., 2019).
Economics and Nutrition
Consuming a nutritious diet can be a challenge for many individuals, especially those dealing with financial issues. About 40.6 million Americans lived in poverty in 2016, making them more susceptible to worse health outcomes and less healthcare access (Food Research and Action Center [FRAC], 2017). Food insecurities are defined as poor food intake or eating patterns due to a lack of money and resources, common in the poor population. Different food assistance programs are available to the community, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program provides food benefits, education on food preparation, and access to a healthy diet to low-income households. To be eligible for this program, the individuals must be Florida residents and have a current bank balance under $2,001 or less than $3,001 if they live with someone with a disability or be older than 60 (FRAC, 2017).
Teaching Barriers
Healthcare professionals are skilled in accessing their patient’s learning abilities and finding ways to educate them effectively. But there are many different barriers to consider that can potentially affect their learning. Some of these barriers include low literacy and lack of motivation. When it comes to low literacy, many individuals feel embarrassed to admit their learning deficits and try to hide them by appearing to those educating them that they understand when they do not. There are different techniques and tips available for nurses to inform their patients with low literacy better. The first step is assessing the patient’s literacy. The National Assessment of Adult Literacy (NAAL) is a large-scale national assessment tool designed to measure a patient’s literacy (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2017). Once the patient’s level of education is addressed, the nurse must find what learning style is most effective for the patient and what resources can help the patient, such as brochures, posters, group classes, or videos.
References
Chen, S., Wang, S., Rong, P., Liu, J., Zhang, H., & Zhang, J. (2017). Acupuncture for refractory epilepsy: Role of thalamus. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/950631
Food Research and Action Center. (2017). The Impact of Poverty, Food Insecurity, and Poor Nutrition on Health and Well-Being [PDF]. Food Research & Action Center. https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/hunger-health-impact-poverty-food-insecurity-health-well-being.pdf
Mariann M. Harding, Jeffrey Kwong, Dottie Roberts, Debra Hagler, Courtney Reinisch, & Courtney Reinisch. (2019). Lewis’s medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of clinical problems, single volume (11th ed.). Mosby.
Northestern State University. (2017, November 29). What is holistic nursing? – nsu. Northeastern State University Online. https://nursingonline.nsuok.edu/degrees/rn-to-bsn/what-is-holistic-nursing/
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2017). Foundations for population health in community/public health nursing (5th ed.). Mosby.
