| As more people are searching for ways to be and | | | | techniques fall within one of a few categories or |
| stay healthy, there has been a growing interest in | | | | modalities of holistic nursing. Holistic nurses can |
| holistic treatment methods within the healthcare | | | | become specialized in one of the modalities or use a |
| industry. Especially with conditions such as various | | | | mixture to treat patients. The most common |
| cancers or where patients need long-term care. | | | | modalities are manipulative and body-based practices |
| Though the actual results and the benefits are often | | | | such as massage therapy, mind-body medicine like |
| debated by medical professionals, most admit that | | | | yoga, biologically based practices that include herbal |
| when a patient is in a good place emotionally, it only | | | | therapy, and energy medicine such as magnetic |
| enhances their treatment. Thus, the popularity of | | | | therapy. |
| holistic treatments is growing and there is an | | | | Aside from the methods and ideology, the other |
| increasing demand for holistic medical professionals. | | | | major distinction in traditional nursing and holistic |
| This is especially true in the nursing profession as | | | | nursing is the types of patients that they treat. |
| nurses usually have more interaction with patients. | | | | Traditional nurses treat all types of patients with |
| Holistic nursing is broadly defined as using nursing | | | | various backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, social status, |
| knowledge and practices in conjunction with other | | | | and medical conditions. They treat infants to the |
| psychological, spiritual, social, interpersonal, and | | | | elderly with everything from a common cold to |
| biological skills to treat the whole patient as in mind, | | | | cancer. Although holistic nurses are trained to treat |
| body, and spirit (in contrast to traditional nursing | | | | every type of patient, they usually treat patients |
| which only focuses on treating the medical condition). | | | | with severe medical conditions. These types of |
| To some degree, all nurses can be seen as holistic | | | | conditions include, but are not limited to severe burns, |
| practitioners due to the nature of the profession. All | | | | terminal patients, cancer patients, or those who need |
| nurses give comfort and help their patients | | | | long term care. It is typically these patients who will |
| understand what is happening to them. However, | | | | be under the care of a nurse long enough for the |
| there are distinct differences between holistic and | | | | nurse to be able to focus on the whole person and |
| traditional nursing. | | | | not the just the medical condition. Yet, with the |
| Though both traditional and holistic nurses are | | | | increase in popularity of holistic nursing, the type of |
| required to be licensed by their state nursing board, | | | | patient that they treat is increasing. |
| holistic nurses usually have (and in some cases are | | | | Since there is a difference in the type of patient that |
| required to have) additional training. This training is | | | | is treated by traditional nurses and holistic nurses, |
| geared toward the techniques that promote | | | | there is a difference in where they are most |
| psychological, spiritual, and mental health. The training | | | | commonly found. Traditional nurses are found at |
| of Holistic nursing promotes wellness through means | | | | every type of healthcare facility and they are |
| other than exercise, medicine, and nutrition. They also | | | | typically able to get a job at any type of healthcare |
| promote stress free and a calming atmosphere, | | | | firm or organization. However, while holistic nurses |
| working through emotional issues and setbacks, and | | | | can work at hospitals, the majority of holistic nurses |
| finding inner peace. In addition, like other nursing | | | | are usually found at the more specialized healthcare |
| specialties there are certifications for holistic nursing. | | | | facilities and firms that cater to their particular type |
| Traditional nursing is often limited in the methods that | | | | of patient. |
| can be used in order to treat a patient. Typically, | | | | The holistic approach has been noted as effective |
| there are policies and procedures that guide the | | | | for some patients and many more are attempting to |
| actions, responses and behavior of a traditional nurse. | | | | incorporate a holistic approach to their medical |
| To be more specific, aside from medical treatment, | | | | treatment. Like traditional nursing, holistic nursing is a |
| comfort, advice, and kindness there is little else that | | | | booming career path today. In addition, more and |
| a traditional nurse can do to treat their patients. On | | | | more nursing programs are offering holistic |
| the other hand, a Holistic nurse is encouraged to use | | | | components in classes and providing the training |
| creativity in their methods of treating patients. A | | | | regimen and exam preparation for holistic nursing |
| holistic nurse is free to use treatment methods that | | | | certifications. Right now, it is still much easier to |
| include but are not limited music therapy, calming | | | | obtain a job as a traditional nurse, but there are |
| techniques, guided imagery, art and animal assisted | | | | resources for holistic nurses. The American Holistic |
| therapy, an anxiety reduction, as well as a host of | | | | Nurse Association is a great resource for anyone |
| other techniques to treat their patients. These | | | | considering holistic nursing as a specialty. |