571319 research-article2015
JHNXXX10.1177/0898010115571319Journal of Holistic NursingEditorial / Cowling
Editorial
Evolving and Enduring Topics in Holistic Nursing
What Is the Enduring and Evolving Nature of Holistic Nursing? Holistic nursing is officially defined and clearly explicated by the American Holistic Nurses Association. The recognition of holistic nursing, its contributions to the well-being of society, and its credibility in offering viable evidence-based approaches to improving health are well documented. There is general appreciation of holistic nursing practice as focused on healing the whole person as its goal. How has holistic nursing evolved and what does this mean to both the practitioners of holistic nursing and the recipients of their care? Obviously holistic nursing has enduring qualities and attributes that differentiate it from other forms of nursing—do those differentiations remain or are the distinctions becoming more blurred in nursing care in general? Is differentiation or integration of holistic nursing our goal or perhaps both simultaneously? How has the evolving nature of holistic nursing kept pace with advances in science, technology, and health care more generally? In what ways has holistic nursing made an impact on values of equality, diversity, and social justice?
What Is the Enduring History of Holistic Nursing That Guides Us to Improving Humankind? Holistic nursing has a rich history that extends from the era of Nightingale and encompasses a long journey to the present day. There are many ways that history has been viewed and interpreted. How has the enduring history of holistic nursing influenced
jhn
4
Journal of Holistic Nursing American Holistic Nurses Association Volume 33 Number 1 March 2015 4–5 © The Author(s) 2015 10.1177/0898010115571319 http://jhn.sagepub.com
current-day holistic nursing? What are some of the enduring contributions of those who practiced as well as advocated for holistic nursing that touch the lives of people today? What major health challenges through history have been positively met and changed for human betterment because of holistic nursing? Where will the history of holistic nursing likely take us in the future as the light from that history brings new understandings to nursing, to humankind, and to the challenges that we face in society today? The American Holistic Nurses Association was founded in 1980 and the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation was founded in 1997. What have these two major organizational forces contributed to the enduring and evolving course of holistic nursing? How has leadership in holistic nursing been shaped and yielded influence in the context of these two professional organizations? How has the evolution of holistic nursing as a specialty practice influenced nursing and health care?
How Is Holistic Nursing Evolving Into the Vanguard of Health Care? Increasingly, health care organizations and institutions as well as providers have been embracing holistic nursing either explicitly or implicitly. Holistic nursing has flourished in the midst of many initiatives and programs with a focus on well-being, health promotion, and patient-centered care applying integrative and unitary ideals. More students are seeking a focus on holistic nursing both in beginning and advanced practice. Leading national reports have called for nurses to be allowed and supported to function at their highest educational preparation. The Patient Protection and Affordable
Downloaded from jhn.sagepub.com at PURDUE UNIVERSITY TSS on June 8, 2015
Editorial / Cowling 5
Health Care Act of 2010 opened and widened the door to patient-centered care noting that patients deserve to and will become key players in determining which health care outcomes are valued. What are the evolving roles that holistic nurses are developing to fulfill the opportunities inherent in each of these trends and movements? What innovative approaches and programs have been developed seizing
on the opportunities of these new developments in health care? Where will holistic nursing go in the future and how will it evolve and develop as it responds to the changes and challenges of health care, education, science, and society? —W. Richard Cowling III, RN, PhD, APRN-BC, AHN-BC, FAAN
Downloaded from jhn.sagepub.com at PURDUE UNIVERSITY TSS on June 8, 2015
JHNXXX10.1177/0898010115571319Journal of Holistic NursingEditorial / Cowling
Editorial
Evolving and Enduring Topics in Holistic Nursing
What Is the Enduring and Evolving Nature of Holistic Nursing? Holistic nursing is officially defined and clearly explicated by the American Holistic Nurses Association. The recognition of holistic nursing, its contributions to the well-being of society, and its credibility in offering viable evidence-based approaches to improving health are well documented. There is general appreciation of holistic nursing practice as focused on healing the whole person as its goal. How has holistic nursing evolved and what does this mean to both the practitioners of holistic nursing and the recipients of their care? Obviously holistic nursing has enduring qualities and attributes that differentiate it from other forms of nursing—do those differentiations remain or are the distinctions becoming more blurred in nursing care in general? Is differentiation or integration of holistic nursing our goal or perhaps both simultaneously? How has the evolving nature of holistic nursing kept pace with advances in science, technology, and health care more generally? In what ways has holistic nursing made an impact on values of equality, diversity, and social justice?
What Is the Enduring History of Holistic Nursing That Guides Us to Improving Humankind? Holistic nursing has a rich history that extends from the era of Nightingale and encompasses a long journey to the present day. There are many ways that history has been viewed and interpreted. How has the enduring history of holistic nursing influenced
jhn
4
Journal of Holistic Nursing American Holistic Nurses Association Volume 33 Number 1 March 2015 4–5 © The Author(s) 2015 10.1177/0898010115571319 http://jhn.sagepub.com
current-day holistic nursing? What are some of the enduring contributions of those who practiced as well as advocated for holistic nursing that touch the lives of people today? What major health challenges through history have been positively met and changed for human betterment because of holistic nursing? Where will the history of holistic nursing likely take us in the future as the light from that history brings new understandings to nursing, to humankind, and to the challenges that we face in society today? The American Holistic Nurses Association was founded in 1980 and the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation was founded in 1997. What have these two major organizational forces contributed to the enduring and evolving course of holistic nursing? How has leadership in holistic nursing been shaped and yielded influence in the context of these two professional organizations? How has the evolution of holistic nursing as a specialty practice influenced nursing and health care?
How Is Holistic Nursing Evolving Into the Vanguard of Health Care? Increasingly, health care organizations and institutions as well as providers have been embracing holistic nursing either explicitly or implicitly. Holistic nursing has flourished in the midst of many initiatives and programs with a focus on well-being, health promotion, and patient-centered care applying integrative and unitary ideals. More students are seeking a focus on holistic nursing both in beginning and advanced practice. Leading national reports have called for nurses to be allowed and supported to function at their highest educational preparation. The Patient Protection and Affordable
Downloaded from jhn.sagepub.com at PURDUE UNIVERSITY TSS on June 8, 2015
Editorial / Cowling 5
Health Care Act of 2010 opened and widened the door to patient-centered care noting that patients deserve to and will become key players in determining which health care outcomes are valued. What are the evolving roles that holistic nurses are developing to fulfill the opportunities inherent in each of these trends and movements? What innovative approaches and programs have been developed seizing
on the opportunities of these new developments in health care? Where will holistic nursing go in the future and how will it evolve and develop as it responds to the changes and challenges of health care, education, science, and society? —W. Richard Cowling III, RN, PhD, APRN-BC, AHN-BC, FAAN
Downloaded from jhn.sagepub.com at PURDUE UNIVERSITY TSS on June 8, 2015
