A widespread belief in nursing education and practice is that nursing practice should be holistic, and patient centered. Consequently, there is a focus among nurses to promote patient-centered care supported with holistic nursing. In this regard, holistic care should promote values, the right to self-fulfillment, culture, and quality of care for enhanced patient outcomes. That is, nursing care should encourage healing of the whole person while recognizing unique attributes such as cultures and patient rights.
Patient care should promote optimal outcomes in the mind, body, and spirit. Nurses should understand patients and, therefore, they would be able to deliver care that is more specific to their patients concerning patient wholeness. Moreover, they would also be promoting and enhancing patient responsibility. Consequently, patients would take interest in treatment, decision-making, behavior change, and enhanced self-management.
Research has demonstrated that patient-centered practice can lead to improved patient outcomes and patient satisfaction while nurses feel a sense of professionalism (Dow, Haralambous, Bremner, & Fearn, 2006).
The philosophy of care for holistic patient-centered care accounts for individual differences, cultural diversity, and the personal preferences of patients. In addition, it should be simple to implement and provide favorable treatment environments.
Given the relevance of holistic patient-centered care, nurses must strive to deliver the same to patients. Thus, nurses should promote culture change in nursing practice. In this regard, they must assess individual, multidisciplinary team, and organizational practices to determine specific areas for improvement.
Nurses should therefore concentrate on areas of decision-making to promote holistic patient-centered care. Consequently, patients can express their wishes during treatment, and get a treatment that respects their cultures, values, beliefs, and goals.
Reference
Dow, B., Haralambous, B., Bremner, F., & Fearn, M. (2006). What is person-centred health care? A literature review. Victoria, Australia: Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Melbourne.