Holistic practice – A concept analysis

Summary 

Aims and objectives

This article aims to clarify the concept of “holism” in nursing through the use of Rodgers [Rodgers, B.L., 1989. Concept analysis and the development of nursing knowledge; the evolutionary cycle. Journal of Advanced Nursing 14, 330–335] concept analysis framework.

Background

The primary author is employed in a urology department which cares for many clients with end stage cancer. Holistic nursing practice is the philosophy of the unit, however many nurses struggle to articulate what holistic practice actually means to them, hence this analysis was deemed very pertinent to practicing nurses to enable the realization of nurses therapeutic potential when caring for patients in practice.

Method

Rodgers (1989) well-established method of concept analysis was employed to facilitate the clarification of the concept of holistic nursing practice.

Relevance to clinical practice

The clarification of the concept offered a working definition of holistic nursing practice which practicing nurses can clearly comprehend and avail of when caring for patients of all race, religion and creed in the clinical practice area.

Conclusion

By undertaking this methodology of concept analysis the integrity of the concept was kept intact. The factors that influence holistic nursing practice were identified and a model case demonstrated the reality of holistic nursing care for practicing nurses.

Keywords: Concept analysis, Holism, Holistic, Body, mind and spirit, Nursing practice