Holistic nursing care spans the physical, emotional, and mental health dimensions of patient care, and its effective delivery demands commitment, time, and resources, which has become increasingly difficult to do in today’s healthcare environment.
Approaches to delivering quality care are evolving. Rather than consider only a patient’s immediate health issue, health professionals face growing awareness of the benefits of holistic care — that is, caring for the “whole person.” This recognition that care requires going beyond the condition, injury, or disease and assessing the patient’s entire well-being by evaluating physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Research shows that this holistic model leads to improved health outcomes for patients.
In fact, it has been embedded in many cultures, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who understand the importance of treating mind, body, and spirit. In order to accelerate the adoption of holistic care practices, in 2017, the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care introduced national standards that focus on partnering with patients and thereby defining such person-centred care as care that “is respectful of, and responsive to, the preferences, needs and values of the individual patient.”
The standards stipulate that nurses learn more about their patients, listen to patients, demonstrate empathy, and respect patients’ personal values. The standards also recognise that health is affected by a number of factors — such as environmental influences and diet — and therefore nurses must now begin to ask patients questions about, for instance, lifestyle. Failure to consider the whole patient can have a negative impact on the patient and thereby delay recovery, even worsen a patient’s condition or impact the patient’s emotional well-being.
This can be especially true for vulnerable communities such as First Nations Australians, who already take a holistic approach to their health and well-being. When First Nations Australians’ cultural identity gets disrespected or their values ignored, for example, the effect on their health can be devastating.
Australian research supports the effectiveness of holistic care, particularly within Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs). These organizations provide care that addresses not only physical health but also the social, emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs of Indigenous communities. ACCHOs incorporate culturally appropriate practices, emphasizing the importance of relationships, community involvement, and respect for traditional knowledge. This evidence demonstrates that holistic care models, particularly those that involve community control and cultural sensitivity, are essential for improving health outcomes in Australia.
In urban settings, meanwhile, nurses incorporate holistic practices by addressing the social determinants of health. They may coordinate with social workers to ensure that patients have access to housing, nutrition, and mental health support, recognizing that these factors significantly impact health outcomes. This collaborative approach helps create a comprehensive care plan that addresses not just the immediate medical needs but also the broader aspects of a patient's life.
Obstacles to holistic nursing care
Even though growing evidence is showing the benefits of holistic nursing, health services have been slow to adopt the practice. Studies attribute the neglect to such factors as inadequate time and supervision, poor management, and misunderstanding of the concept.
A Victorian study found that patient experience scores — the measure by which patients rate their interactions with the health system — were below targets. The study recommended focus on evidence-based interventions that include dignity, respect, and emotional support to improve the patient experience.
Significant hurdles have arisen that impede the widespread delivery of holistic care — not the least being nurses’ own well-being. Nurses are under-resourced, overworked, and overwhelmed. Nurses have difficulty in delivering holistic care to others when their own self-care is suffering. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the profession’s many already everyday stresses, including workforce shortages and presenteeism, with 70% of frontline health workers in Australia citing moderate to severe burnout.
For nurses to provide optimal holistic care, health organizations must support nurses with their own health and well-being, while providing the tools and resources to deliver patient-centred care that requires partnering with the patient and that person’s family and caregivers.
Find out more about how Lippincott® Solutions can support nurses in Australia’s healthcare settings.
