Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association
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Successful adaptation to chronic illness is enhanced by active client-health care provider partnerships. The purposes of this article are to (a) examine the health care partnership needs of western rural women with chronic illness who participated in a computer-based support and education project, (b) describe how the role of the women in the partnership can be maximized by the use of a personal health record and improving health literacy, and (c) discuss ways health care providers can enhance their role in the partnership by careful listening and creating environments conducive to forging productive client-provider partnerships.
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Social and professional paradigm shifts of the 1990s moved holistic nursing into the mainstream of health care, resulting in the need for national certification of Holistic Nurses. Given the assumptions that certification examinations are based on the knowledge, skills, and abilities prerequisite for competent practice in a given specialty, and that the certification credential tells the public and peers that the certificant has such knowledge, The American Holistic Nurses Association's Leadership Council (AHNA-LC) initiated certification processes in 1994. ⋯ Since then, AHNCC has overseen the revision of the first certification process for holistic nursing prepared at the baccalaureate level and development of a second one designed for holistic nurses prepared in graduate nursing programs. This article describe these developmental processes.
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Pain, in all probability, is the most common symptom experienced by individuals who interact with health care providers. It is understood as a complex and highly individual experience. ⋯ Caring for the patient in pain begins with heartfelt compassion and intention to help the person who is suffering. The author describes how the complex relationship and interchange between the patient and the holistic nurse explains the paradox.
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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. ⋯ 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.