Journal of Holistic Nursing

A Gadamerian hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was selected to explicate the essence of spiritual care with six registered nurses working within hospital settings. Findings revealed that deep knowing of the patient was essential before registered nurses would engage in spiritual care. Furthermore, spirituality was understood as a private matter, with chaplains being seen as the most appropriate providers of such care. These findings suggest that within the culture of Danish nursing, a mandate to incorporate spiritual care into everyday nursing practice may be somewhat problematic.

Therapeutic Touch (TT) is a complementary healing modality used by health care providers to reduce anxiety, accelerate relaxation, decrease pain, and enhance immunity. Research studies report outcomes of TT treatments, but few describe the specific process. This qualitative research study was conducted to describe the nature of the core process of TT in adults and full term infants as practiced by five professional nurses, each treating one adult and one infant. Analysis of data obtained from interviews and focused participant observations was conducted. Findings provide empirical data to depict an overall process divided into three phases: (a) preparation, (b) treatment, and (c) termination, that adheres to the standard process as described by Krieger. It expands on the description of each phase, including two new subcomponents, orienting and disengagement, not previously seen in the literature. Lastly, the study describes the modification of the TT process with infants compared to adults.

The prevalence of herbal medicine use among American adults is well documented. Because of the possible herb–drug interactions, health care providers need to be aware of herb and supplement use by their patients. This descriptive pilot study (N = 35) was designed to explore the demographics, beliefs, concurrent pharmaceutical use with herbs and supplements and their primary sources of information, and reporting of use to health care providers by customers at a retail specialty “herb” store. Results revealed that 62.5% of study participants who used herbs regularly also used pharmaceuticals. Among those who used herbs and supplements with pharmaceuticals, only 33% reported that they “always” tell their care provider about them. Forty-one percent reported that they receive most of their information about herbs and supplements from retail staff, but only 3% of participants reported that their primary source of information was a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Findings provide direction for future study.

Purpose: This correlational study determined the extent to which positive, rather than negative, experiences influence depressive symptoms and quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: Data collected during the 7th year of an ongoing longitudinal study of quality of life in community-dwelling persons with MS were used for this analysis. Findings: Higher number of positive experiences was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, less functional limitations, and better quality of life. Using hierarchical multiple regression, age, education, functional limitations, and positive experiences accounted for 21.7% of the variance in depressive symptoms, and functional limitations, positive experiences, and depressive symptoms explained 58% of the variance in quality of life. Conclusions: Higher number of positive experiences predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms, even while taking disease-related functional limitations into account. Incorporating positive experiences into daily life may improve quality of life, even when battling depression and substantial limitations in functioning.

Purpose: North American aboriginal youth have been shown to exhibit some of the highest suicide rates in the world. In this article, the authors examine the main factors related to suicide among aboriginal youth and ways to redress what many consider the most important factor. Main Factor: While many factors contribute to suicide plans, the literature would suggest “discontinuity” with heritage to have a particularly negative impact that needs priority redress. Strategy: A group of Mi'Kmaq elders and an interdisciplinary group of academicians blended traditional Mi'Kmaq knowledge and Western Science knowledge to develop a strategy to address such discontinuity. It involved using puppets made from natural forest materials to promote culture, language, and history. This article describes the strategy, its rationale, as well as its relevance for, and application to, holistic nursing.

Dowd, a faculty member, is a strong proponent for nurses sharing their stories. Miller's story about her volunteer experience was so compelling that Dowd challenged her to share it with the nursing community. This story is a demonstration of how a nurse can bring leadership, sensitive interpersonal skills, and a sense of humor to help forge a cohesive and outward looking temporary community. Nurses naturally interact from a paradigm of care and comfort. Miller makes this interaction explicit. The outcome of the journey was a memorable lived experience that brought caring, healing, and comfort to a situation of devastation. It is hoped this nursing story will inspire the reader to try a similar new role or to tell their story.

This story is the second in a series constructed from a study designed to describe how the art of nursing was perceived and understood by patients during a critical illness. Two in-depth interviews were conducted during the recovery phase of this person's illness to answer the question “When is nursing (considered) art?” The initial lead-in to the discussion was, “Tell me a story about a nursing situation that really stood out in your mind—one that was significant and meaningful,” and, “What was the experience like for you?” The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, condensed into a short story, and shared with the participant. The researcher also composed a “response” to the person's story that personally expressed what the story triggered for her. Undergraduate students were invited to reflect and respond to the “aesthetic face” of nursing from the perspective of a person who was nursed while critically ill. Two examples of student response are included.

In this response to research reported by Dr. Gramling, the author of this response likens the art of nursing to a masterpiece drawn with the inner talents and gifts of nurses. Frances, a patient interviewed by Dr. Gramling, explains her experience of being carefully watched and feeling safe when a nurse pays close attention to her. The author has learned to define the art of nursing through the abstract concepts of the fine arts and asserts that the line between technician and artist is blurred. The poem written by Dr. Gramling in response to Frances reinforces the author's reading of how nursing becomes art.

In this response to research, the author likens the art of nursing to a work of art: abstract with blurred lines but lots of opportunity for interpretation. Frances, a patient interviewed by Dr. Kathryn Gramling as part of her research into patients' perception of nursing care, along with her family, felt comforted by her nurse, who devoted some of his own time to ensuring that Frances understood the procedure she needed and spent time meeting her need for human contact. The author experienced something similar during a hospital stay: She too had a nurse who spent time and gave comfort. The result is that the author understands the art of nursing as it relates to an extra effort to be human and demonstrate empathy. The poem written by Dr. Gramling in response to Frances confirms the patient's view of the art of nursing.

This patient's story was constructed from a study designed to describe how the art of nursing was perceived and understood by patients during a critical illness. Two in-depth interviews were conducted during the recovery phase of this person's illness to answer the question, “When is nursing (considered) art?” The initial lead-in to the discussion was, “Tell me a story about a nursing situation that really stood out in your mind—one that was significant and meaningful.” The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, condensed into a short story and shared with the participant. The researcher, also, composed a response to the person's story that personally expressed what the story triggered for her. Undergraduate nursing students were invited to reflect and respond to the “aesthetic face” of nursing from the perspective of a person who was nursed while critically ill. An example of a student response is included.

The author of this response to Dr. Kathryn Gramling's research on the art of nursing as perceived by patients agrees with patient Justine's assessment of the art. The author believes that the expression of a nurse's personality during the caring process creates the art. Justine saw all her nurses, even the brusque one, as performing in a caring way, each according to his/her own personality. The author believes this definition of the art of nursing is valid.

This patient's story was constructed from a study designed to describe how the art of nursing was perceived and understood by patients during a critical illness. Two in-depth interviews were conducted during the recovery phase of this person's illness to answer the question “When is nursing (considered) art?” The initial lead-in to the discussion was, “Tell me a story about a nursing situation that really stood out in your mind—one that was significant and meaningful.” The interviews were tape recorded, transcribed, condensed into a short story, and shared with the participant. The researcher, also, composed a response to the person's story that personally expressed what the story triggered for her. Undergraduate nursing students were invited to reflect and respond to the “aesthetic face” of nursing from the perspective of a person who was nursed while critically ill. An example of a student response is included.

The author of this article explores her definition of the art of nursing through a response to an interview by Dr. Kathryn Gramling with a patient named Frank. She determines that nursing, although it also requires technical skill and a strong knowledge base, becomes art when the practitioner adopts the caring skills of compassion, touching, and empathy. The poem Dr. Gramling wrote in response to her contact with Frank reinforces the definition created by the author. When some patients enter a hospital, they experience certain feelings, such as fear, uncertainty, and helplessness. They are placed in a strange setting and are not in the best of health, but each patient deals with sickness differently. Some may act frightened, while others may act impatient and uncooperative. Often, it is a nurse's duty to help ease a patient through this difficult transition. The way a nurse does this makes all the difference to a patient's stay at the hospital. A nurse's impact on the patient can affect the patient either positively or negatively. A nurse must go above and beyond the technical part of nursing in order to make nursing an art.