American Holistic Nurses Association
Teresa L. Frisch, RN, Reiki Master / Teacher 2.2.09
Conventional western medical practice normally includes advice such as stop smoking, eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of fluids, and get ample fresh air, exercise and rest. Sound familiar?
Wellness programs and lifestyle changes to achieve optimal states of health are not new, but nurse and statistician Florence Nightingale would have been gratified to see a report released from the National Center for Health Statistics in December of 2008. Americans surveyed in 2007 indicated the use of various types of complementary and alternative medicine was rising (Barnes et al.) Already acting on the call from within themselves and their ranks, Nightingale would also be pleased to see that the nursing profession is acting on behalf of their patients and themselves by proactively meeting the challenge.
In 2006 the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) became a recognized specialty of the American Nurses Association (ANA). I hope anyone not familiar with the nursing profession will take a few moments to peruse the website to gain an appreciation for the visionary level of professionalism, scope of practice, mission, goals, and research guidelines. You will also find collaborative efforts with NCCAM, conferences, continuing education, certification and accreditation, as well as holistic modalities.
Some key points from the website give an understanding of the insight of the holistic nurse and his or her practice:
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“Holistic nursing is a specialty practice that draws on nursing knowledge, theories, expertise and intuition to guide nurses in becoming therapeutic partners with people in their care. This practice recognizes the totality of the human being - the interconnectedness of body, mind, emotion, spirit, social/cultural, relationship, context, and environment" (Thorton).
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“Defines core values of the profession, educational preparation necessary, standards of practice, and standards of professional performance as well as references and information about complementary and alternative modalities (CAM)" (Thorton).
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I hope you have enjoyed visiting the AHNA website and a glimpse into the evolving legacy of Nightingale, her holistic vision, core values and nursing practice still being used in 2009. Aesthetic Impact welcomes any peer-reviewed articles related to Holistic Nursing. If you would like to submit them for addition to the site please email complete sourced information through “contact us.”
Revised: tlf 3.29.09
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