Holistic Nursing Care: Women's Health & Humanistic Theory - Research Paper

Introduction

The humanistic nursing theory stipulates that patient care should be holistic such that a patient's physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health are all taken into consideration. Each patient has to be treated as a unique individual with personal values and expectations and, therefore, personalized care will focus on building a relationship with patients (Cantus & Contreras, 2012). I have chosen the humanistic nursing theory to guide my practicum experience. Women's health, as much as any, is varied owing to their afflictions and how they react to medications. A nurse has the duty to understand the patients' background, their beliefs, and their preferences to the point that they have a personal relationship. Evidence-based practice has established that holistic care yields better results compared to only focusing on the physical ailments in general as any other patient. I agree with this concept because it has been my experience that even though two or more patients may be having the same ailment, they do not necessarily respond to the same methods of treatment.

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Goals and Objectives

I have goals and objectives that go beyond my primary duty of providing care to actually affect change in peoples lives such that they have all-round optimum health. I purpose and dedicate my efforts to tackle underlying issues in women health such as equality and various forms of stigma in the context of the responsibilities that women have in society. Issues such as the use of contraception, abortion, breast and cervical cancer have a unique impact on women. In no way disregarding men's unique health requirements, but women truly need personalized care to address their myriad conditions and not to forget the inequalities they face. A woman who will feel that she is treated with respect and given equal attention to men will feel welcomed to the hospitals and also encourage others to seek regular medical care (Braithwaite & Schrodt, 2014).

The application of humanistic nursing theory is difficult in practice, and I often find myself generalizing patients while also falling short to address their needs holistically. It is typically due to workload and partly due to lack of experience (Cantus & Contreras, 2012). It is my goal to learn all of the tenets of the nursing theory and embed it to my work. I have the objective to also work together with my colleagues in a similar fashion where we encourage and learn from each other best practices. I aim to be a leading member of a multidisciplinary team who promotes physical health, mental health, spiritual health, and also mindful of cultures in the context of what is going on in the society. I will be able to achieve all this by doing research and also shadowing my more experienced colleagues that will serve as my mentors.

The Timeline of Practicum Activities

My practicum requirements are 144 hours that I planned to use to perform my duties in addition to perfecting the application of humanistic nursing theory. I was tasked on the first day to follow and observe the preceptor assigned to me as she guided me through her day of attending to patients. I learned how to engage with patients, how to encourage them to express themselves, and how to do follow-ups that came in handy on my second day. On that second day, I had the duty to see some patients under supervision. I was later allowed to perform my duties on my own. I aim to be part of a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals after one month of learning. My dedication will be directed to follow up with women that come into the facility and ensure that they receive treatment holistically. After 3 months, I hope to have created a rapport in the hospital and with my patients of a caring nurse that champions women's issues.

References

Braithwaite, D. O., & Schrodt, P. (2014). Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: Multiple perspectives. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications,

Cantus, S. D. & Contreras, P. L. (2012). Theories and models in clinical nursing practice. An impossible relationship? Enfermia Global. ISSN 1695-6141.

Paterson, J. (2016). Humanistic Nursing. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.