Holistic Care in Palliative Care: Understanding Patients' Needs

Running head: PALLIATIVE CARE 1
Palliative care
(Author’s name)
(Institutional Affiliation)

PALLIATIVE CARE 2
Holistic care
Holistic care is one of the most comprehensive models of caring which have been said to
be the heart of the science of nursing(Brennan, 2013). The philosophy behind it is based on
holism that majorly emphasizes on human beings as a whole and merely some parts including
the fact that human body is also affected by mind and spirit(Cadet, Davis, Elks & Wilson, 2016).
Holism in nursing is more than taking just actions or giving spoken word s to patients. Having
that in mind, holistic care is explained as behavior that recognizes patient as a whole and respects
the interdependence that exists among patients social, psychological, biological and spiritual
needs. (Cadet, Davis, Elks & Wilson, 2016). A wide range of approach usually is used in holistic
care which includes patient education, medications, therapeutic communication, self-
management and complementary treatment(Brennan, 2013).In many healthcare, institutions
nurses depend on decisions of a doctor in order to meet patients’ needs, but in holistic care, all
health care providers are included in a multidisciplinary team to enhance all aspects of the
patient are addressed.("Effective factors in providing holistic care: A qualitative study," 2015).
Holistic care providers are meant to consider the patient as a whole within his or her
environment and have in mind that patient is made up of mind, body, and spirit.(Rainsford &
Glasgow, 2016).Looking terms such as spirituality and religion normally imply a clear
understanding of greater philosophical values of existence including basic life principals(Judge,
2016). In normal holistic care, health care providers are required to support patient spiritual
aspects of care equally as they do to other biophysical elements(Judge, 2016). Most common
interventions in this area are often aimed to archive patient’s communication with his God or a
higher being(Judge, 2016). Nurses always promote the process of religious and spiritual
activities. Such approaches include meditation, being present during the time of prayers,