Journal of Holistic Nursing

During the mid 19th century, herbal remedies were the platform for a major health reform movement in America known as the Botanical Medical Movement (BMM). A number of histories have been written on the BMM from the perspectives of physicians and pharmacists. Purpose: This article describes the history of nurse-herbalism during the period and the impact that Shaker nurses, in particular, had on the BMM. Method: The article traces the history and findings of a triangulated case study. Findings: Shaker nurses used herbs extensively in their caring and curing practices. They applied the botanical remedies recommended by BMM leaders. The nurses were also expert herbal medicine makers who used their own remedies in patient care. Conclusions: The Shaker infirmary was the nurses’ behind-the-scenes research and development laboratory for the Shaker herbal cottage industry, which ultimately developed into an international, entrepreneurial endeavor. The Shaker infirmary was the nurses’ organized proving ground for the implementation of the botanical health reforms of the mid 19th century. The nurse-herbalists’ contribution to the promotion and production of herbal remedies had a significant impact on the success of botanical health reform in America.

Purpose: The authors examined goal achievement over an 8-month period in women with fibromyalgia participating in a holistic health promotion intervention using Goal Attainment Scaling. Design: Descriptive. Methods: Goal attainment was assessed by interviews at five points: baseline (retrospectively), immediately after the 8-week classes, at the middle and end of the telephone support period, and 3 months later. Findings: The percentage of women who attained or exceeded their goals in the four health promotion areas of Lifestyle Adjustment, Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Stress Management increased from between 15% and 26% at the end of the classes to between 58% and 76% at the end of the telephone support period. Although scores declined somewhat in the following 3 months, at least 60% of the women continued to report behaviors at or above their goal level in all areas except Physical Activity. Conclusions: Goal Attainment Scaling, an individually determined measure of change, can effectively capture behavioral changes associated with a holistic health promotion intervention. A nurse facilitator, who not only understood the need for specific, measurable GAS but was also able to encourage and support women’s identification of goals that were meaningful to them, was key to the positive findings observed here.

The mirror is an object that shows one a reflected image of body areas. There appears to be limited nursing literature about the role of a nurse in the use of a mirror. There is, however, literature of the therapeutic use of mirrors in medicine, neurology, psychiatry, psychology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and rheumatology. The objective of this article is to review the basic elements and the underlying theoretical framework of mirror interventions. In 2007 to 2008, a keyword, abstract, and title search was conducted for therapeutic mirror studies between the years 1998 and 2008. A multidisciplinary, integrated review approach was used when it became apparent that there were limited nursing studies. Qualitative and quantitative strategies for reviewing evidence were used, and a narrative synthesis approach was used to guide the comprehensive synthesis. Underlying theoretical models were identified, and five elements of mirror interventions were synthesized from the literature.

Students who wanted to quit smoking were invited to partner with teachers/support persons to identify the meaningful patterns of their lives. The theoretical framework guiding the study was Newman’s theory of health as expanding consciousness from the perspective of the unitary-transformative paradigm in nursing science. Student participants shared the meaningful relationships and events of their lives with their supportive partners, and together they reflected on the patterns of the students’ lives. Two similarities among the individual patterns were found: a difficult experience in interpersonal relationships at some point in their lives and the initiation of smoking in their search for connectedness with friends. In the dialectic process, students experienced insight regarding their evolving patterns and made transformative changes in their lives, reflecting varying levels of tobacco control.

Background: Recalling and talking about dreams could initiate dream work among older people and provide an opportunity for self-confrontation and personal growth, which could in turn promote gerotranscendental development. The present article describes older people’s opinions about participating in a dream-coaching group; it also briefly describes the theoretical foundation of dream coaching. Aims and Objectives: The study aim was to investigate older people’s experience of participating in a dream-coaching group based on Jungian psychology. Design: A descriptive design was used. Method: Retrospective interviews were explored using qualitative content analysis. Findings: The participants were satisfied with the arrangement of the dream-coaching groups. All participants believed that they had recalled their dreams and thought much more about their dreams during the period in which the dream-coaching group met. Three diverse appraisals of participating in a dream-coaching group, which had different effects on the participants, were identified: “An activity like any other activity,” “An activity that led to deeper thoughts about the meaning of dreams,” and “An activity that led to deeper thoughts both about the meaning of dreams and about how dreams can improve one’s understanding of the life situation.” Conclusions: It is possible to arrange dream-coaching groups for older people and could be a way to promote personal development using this type of intervention. Implications: The study provides some guidance as to how such a group could be organized, thus facilitating use of dream-coaching groups in gerontological care.

Integrative alternative therapies, also known as holistic therapies, have many applications in hospitals and health centers. These may include relaxation therapies, meditation, massage, reflexology, and Reiki or healing touch. Patients today are looking for these services, and institutions continue to explore ways to provide them without affecting their bottom line. The Integrative Cardiac Wellness Program is such a service, and its growth and longevity comes out of the personal investment of the staff to the program and to their patients. The literature review on the permanence of caring practice shows that caring about your work with patients, not just the job, is critical in longevity (Graber & Mitcham, 2004). The holistic nurses’ and staff ’s commitment to their professional growth within their specialty and their personal spiritual practice as experts in the field forms the backbone of the Integrative Wellness Program’s success. It has been in existence for 7 years, providing integrative healing therapies to more than 7,000 patients, making it one of the most experienced. The program now serves cardiac surgery patients, and patients who have been diagnosed with cancer.

When compared with other racial and ethnic groups, African American men experience a great number of health disparities. The factors that perpetuate health disparities among African American men are multidimensional and include lack of access to equitable health care, lack of knowledge and limited education about health promoting behaviors, lack of organizational trust and acceptability, the impact of masculinity on health, and psychological factors. This article explores the health promotion needs of African American men and the ability of the natural helper model to address those needs. Further discussion of its use by holistic nurses as a culturally tailored health promotion intervention targeting African American men is presented.