According to Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice by Barbara Montgomery Dossey and Lynn Keegan, a Holistic Nurse:
"recognize(s) the human health experience as a complicated, dynamic relationship of health, illness, and wellness, and they value healing as the desired outcome of the practice of nursing. Their practice is based on scientific foundations (theory, research, evidence-based practice, critical thinking, reflection) and art (relationship, communication, creativity, presence, caring)."
Nurses who are invested in Holistic care of individuals work to create a healing relationship through person-centered care. What this means is that the focus of the relationship is toward healing rather than toward diseases and cures. For example, an individual is not a "diabetic" but a "person who has diabetes." With this said, a Holistic Nurse is still a licensed nurse who has passed Boards and been educated in Western Medicine. In addition to this level of knowledge and expertise, a Holistic Nurse may have experience in any number of the Complementary and Alternative Modalities available to help encourage individuals in their pursuit of Health and Well-being.
In our rushed and hectic lives today, many of us may feel less than well. We may or may not be suffering from specific "diseases" however, we seem to put aside healthy choices and lifestyle practices today and think we can make time for them tomorrow. Unfortunately, tomorrow often seems a long way off and we continue to do the best we can in the meantime - never really feeling completely well or satisfied with the current moment.
It is possible that taking the time to visit with a Holistic Nurse may offer some assistance to individuals who are looking to feel better on a day-to-day basis.
Check out some of these helpful links.
http://www.ahna.org/
http://www.drmccall.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Path-Holistic-Health/dp/B0002DQYVO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1284347491&sr=8-3-catcorr
