Holistic healthcare focuses on addressing the physical, emotional, mental and social needs of a patient. This approach aligns with the principles of holistic medicine, which considers all components that impact an individual’s health. For family nurse practitioners (FNPs), holistic care is the foundation of patient care.
The Youngstown State University (YSU) online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program advances the practice of FNPs, particularly through its focus on holistic care. The Family Nurse Practitioner 1, 2 and 3 courses within this program emphasize a holistic approach to nursing, preparing nurses to treat patients as whole beings rather than a collection of symptoms.
Holism in Healthcare
Holism is a theory concerned with how parts of a whole interconnect. In healthcare, holism focuses on the physical and non-physical aspects of the person and embraces diverse alternatives to promoting and maintaining health. The concept of holism in healthcare has three main facets:
- The body is viewed holistically rather than as isolated parts or organ systems, with each component assessed in relation to the entire physical body.
- Non-physical aspects — such as the mind, emotions, spirit and interpersonal relationships — are also considered in an individual’s health.
- Health and illness are evaluated with consideration of the immediate environment, cultural influences and global factors.
Holism does not compete with or replace traditional medicine but complements and expands the practice. By incorporating physical, emotional, social, spiritual, cultural and behavioral assessments, holistic healthcare supports current medical treatments and bridges the gap between traditional medicine and the individual’s unique needs and goals.
Complexity Science in Healthcare
Complexity science explores how different components of a system interact and adapt over time. This science looks at how small changes in one area can lead to big effects elsewhere and how systems comprise many interconnected parts that influence each other. This approach recognizes that healthcare systems are not linear but composed of multiple factors that can lead to unpredictable outcomes.
There are significant implications of complexity science. By acknowledging the complexity of health and illness, FNPs can develop more flexible and adaptive strategies for patient care. This might involve integrating various treatments and recognizing the influence of external factors such as social determinants of health.
What Is Holistic Primary Care?
Integrative primary care, or holistic primary care, is a patient-centered approach to medicine that aims to identify and treat the root cause of an illness, not just the symptoms. This type of care understands that many factors beyond the physical can influence health. There are several core principles in providing integrative primary care:
- Whole-person care: This evaluates the patient’s overall health by considering lifestyle, diet, stress levels and emotional well-being, recognizing these factors as essential components of diagnosis and treatment.
- Patient-centered approach: In this method, patients play an active role in their healthcare and contribute to creating personalized care plans that reflect their specific needs, preferences and values.
- Collaboration and coordination: These involve a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, nurses, nutritionists, mental health counselors and therapists — ensuring that care is well coordinated.
- Prevention and wellness: This prioritizes preventive care and lifestyle changes to maintain wellness and prevent illness.
- Evidence-based therapies: These methods integrate complementary therapies with a foundation in scientifically validated treatments, ensuring safe and effective care.
Integrative primary care is considered personalized medicine and is an important component of holistic healthcare. Integrated primary care emphasizes tailored treatment plans that account for an individual’s genetic makeup, lifestyle and environment. It aims to provide treatments specifically designed for an individual, enhancing the effectiveness and reducing the likelihood of adverse effects.
The FNP and Holistic Care
FNPs who incorporate holistic principles into their practice are better equipped to address patient care in today’s healthcare environment. Holistic nursing aligns with modern care to promote a more comprehensive and integrative approach to health and wellness. FNPs adopting this approach seek to understand and address the broader context of a patient’s life, including lifestyle choices and mental well-being. By treating patients holistically, FNPs reduce healthcare costs and build a deeper, more trusting relationship with their patients.
To normalize holistic healthcare, FNPs should promote the understanding of health as an interconnected system, empower patients through education and personalized care, and foster a healthcare environment that values multiple treatment options. HIT Consultant also encourages FNPs to create initiatives that incentivize primary care, embrace technology, penalize unhealthy choices and reward healthy behaviors. FNPs can be certain that through promoting initiatives that make holistic healthcare affordable and accessible, patient care advances and health outcomes improve.
The Online MSN FNP Program at Youngstown State University
The online MSN FNP program at YSU is designed for nurses seeking to advance their careers by becoming FNPs. This program is particularly suited for those who wish to incorporate holistic principles into their practice and provide comprehensive care that addresses the full spectrum of a patient’s needs. Graduates are well equipped to meet the growing demand for healthcare providers who can deliver patient-centered, holistic care in diverse settings.
Learn more about YSU’s online MSN FNP program.
