Integrative nursing became a healing discipline when Florence Nightingale (1859-1946) found treating wounds and disease was only one part of healing (Koithan, 2018). She believed that treatments were providing the systems of the patient the ability to leave the patient “in the best position for nature to act upon” them (Nightingale, 1859/1946, p. 75).
Six principles create the foundation of integrative nursing. Dr. Mary Koithan (2018), defines them:
- Human Beings Are Whole Systems Inseparable From Their Environments
- Human Beings Have The Innate Capacity For Health & Wellbeing
- Nature Has Healing And Restorative Properties That Contribute To Health and Wellbeing
- Integrative Nursing Is Person-Centered And Relationship Based
- Integrative Nursing Practice Is Informed By Evidence And Uses The Full Range of Therapeutic Modalities To Support/Augment The Healing Process, Moving From Least Intensive/Invasive To More, Depending On Need And Context and lastly,
- Integrative Nursing Focuses On The Health And Wellbeing Of Caregivers As Well as Those They Serve
The last principle is one-of-a-kind. Imagine nurses starting first with self-care, healing, moving into balance, & then provide care to their patients? Finally nurses are acknowledged for their vulnerability to stress and burnout. If this post peaks your interest I highly recommend you read Integrative Nursing Second Edition (2018) Mary Jo Kreitzer & Mary Koithan.
Caring for yourself is not new. However the majority of nurses never take the time. We are too busy caring for our patients & family to devote any time to ourselves. I remember thinking that I did not have 5 minutes to sit down and deep breathe, imagine that? Not taking time in a 12+ hour shift for a bathroom break or lunch? IT IS INSANE! I hear from student nurses at the University of Arizona all the excuses to ignore themselves, sadly I am familiar with all of them. I tell you now that you will never be a healer until you make that first step to self-care. Remember the airplane videos that tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping others? Oh yeah, think seriously about that statement.
Till the next time.
Peace, Kim
Koithan, M. (2018). Concepts and principles of integrative nursing. In Krietzer, M. J. & Koithan, M (Eds.), Integrative nursing (2nd ed., pp. 3-19). Oxford University Press: New York, NY.
Nightingale, F. (1859/1946). Notes on nursing. London: Harrison and Sons.
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