Holistic Nursing Research Paper

HOLISTIC NURSING
Suggesting that holistic nursing care should be introduced in postgraduate critical care nursing, Lane et al (2005) point out that critical care education is an important aspect of professional development for a critical care nurse.
Interdependence between physiological and psychosocial theories and concepts is important for the development of critical care educational programs. A multidisciplinary educational framework provides a deeper understanding of all those factors that contribute to ill health. To enhance patient care outcomes a strategic framework for research, education, clinical excellence and quality assurance needs to be established. Several creative modalities can offer nurses new perspectives on how to improve
The authors determined that sustained continuity of care on the quality of patient care and conducted a systematic review through Medline search. The texts of 260 articles on continuity of care and patient care were selected and results indicated that none of the studies documented negative effects of increased SCOC on the quality of care. SCOC has been found to be associated with patient satisfaction, decreased hospitalizations or emergency department visits, improved recognition of preventive services. The authors suggest that sustained continuity of care improves quality of care and this is seen in case of patients with chronic conditions. Thus all plans to promote such methods of care must target patients with chronic conditions to get maximum
Alm-Roijer et al (2004) argue that better knowledge improves adherence to lifestyle changes and medication in patients with coronary heart disease. Their aim was to investigate if knowledge of risk factors for CHD which were measured by a questionnaire showed any relation to advice to compliance to lifestyle changes to attain treatment goals and adherence to drug therapy. For this study men and women who had a cardiac event were interviewed and 347 patients answered a questionnaire regarding general knowledge of risk factors for CHD, compliance to lifestyle changes to attain treatment goals and adherence to drug therapy. The authors found significant correlations between general knowledge about risk factors for CHD and compliance to lifestyle changes such as weight, stress management, physical activity, diet, attainment of lipid levels and the likelihood of taking prescribed blood pressure-lowering drugs. The study also found no correlations between blood pressure levels, smoking habits and treatment patterns. The authors concluded that a patient's general knowledge on health conditions relating to his illness correlated with his behavior with respect to the risk factors concerned and this should be recognized in heart disease preventive