Just kidding, if this offends anyone, I apologize right now to you.
However, in nursing school I felt my professors were mother figures, nurturing and wise.
I was going through some research on integrative nursing when I found this great essay by Sonya Wallace (2013) who, at the time, was in her first year for a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. When I started to read I did not look where the author was from and I was delighted to realize that a nursing student from across the globe wrote an essay of a nursing student’s perspective of holistic assessment. Some of you reading this post may be one of my students and understand completely what is meant by holistic.
Sonya begins to write:
” There are six aspects if holistic assessment; physiological, psychological, sociological, developmental, spiritual, and culture and the assessment stage of the process is a data-gathering phase, where the nurse collects both subjective and objective data from the patient and when appropriate, their family” (Wallace, 2013, p. 24 & Luxford 2012). Remember the nursing plan from nursing school? Those plans came as close to teaching holistic assessment. However, at the time I was in nursing school 28 years ago, we did not think of them that way. I loved them but most of my fellow student colleagues disliked them, uhmmm, very much! Maybe it was during this time that I found what is now known as integrative nursing already coursing in my blood.
This realization maybe true. Back in 1992 on the first unit I worked on I heard from my patients that they could not find hospital service phone numbers, directions for the remote (back then these were kind of new), and the names of their caregivers. So, I developed a prototype of a ” Welcome” folder for each patient or family member to receive. My manager said go for it so each patient received a folder and the nurse’s put their names on the wipe board on the wall across from the patient. It was a success. Now-a-days this is common practice in many hospitals across the country.
Spirituality & culture awareness may be tougher areas to address with patients. Yes, I know we have a box to check in the electronic health record. But how hard is it to ask a patient or their family how we can help serve these needs while they are hospitalized. Maybe they would like the chaplain or their own pastor to stop by and pray with them. YOU may be asked to pray with them (what would you do?) Or a shaman or medicine man to support the patient through their own culture. So, now you are thinking, I don’t have time for that!!! However, you do not need to do this all at once. That is where those old nursing plans come into effect. Remember them and pass on in your report what you have addressed with the patient and what still needs follow up.
Nurses are all leaders, wherever they practice, and it is our responsibility to bring back Florence Nightingale, and see the patient first when you assess them. Be sure the patient knows the difference between the medical model and the nursing model. Use all your senses to be present with a patient, lead the way to bring back nursing into the hospital and beyond. Nurses have a lot to be proud of and now is a perfect time to spread our wings.
Peace,
Kim
References
Luxford, Y. (2012). Assessing. In Berman, A, Synder S, Kozier, B, Erb , G, Levett-Jones, T, Hales, M, Harvey, N. Luxford , Y, Moxham, L, Park, T, Parker, B, Reid-Searl, K & Stanley D (eds), Kozier and Erb fundamentals of nursing. Australian adaptation (2nd. ed.)., Pearson: Sydney, Parker, Reid-Searl, k & Stanley D (eds), Kozier and Erb fundamentals of nursing. Australian adaptation (2nd. ed.). Pearson: Sydney
Wallace, S. (2013). The importance of holistic assessment-A nursing student perspective. Nuritinga, 12, 24. Copyright, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Tasmania
The Integrative Nurse 