The Appeal Of Holistic Nursing Programs

By Harold Brooks


Most mainstream doctors and nurses today ask patients how they are feeling and then decide what kind of treatment patients need based on the responses they get. They do not take the time to find out what factors beyond the obvious could be at play in a person's mind or body before prescribing medications or recommending certain treatments. Because the focus is on providing fast if not incomplete treatment, patients sometimes continue to suffer from repeated bouts of the same injury or illness often for years on end. However, holistic nursing programs seek to look beyond the obvious and instead focus on viewing patients as whole beings rather than a collection of symptoms or physical reactions.

Until recently, it was extremely uncommon for doctors to treat patients as whole beings rather than as a set of symptoms or physical reactions. They still focus primarily on how you are feeling or what kinds of symptoms you are exhibiting rather than you as a whole being. They are reactive instead of proactive when it comes to taking care of your health or helping you heal entirely.

For example, a patient who complains of frequent headaches may suffer from an underlying cause that goes beyond factors that normally contribute to this type of ailment. While many people develop headaches from fatigue, exertion, or stress, others develop them because of causes that are hidden deeper in the physical body or psyche. The physician could find the root cause by asking about the person's lifestyle, diet, exercise habits, or medicinal regimen.

Depression and anxiety can also contribute to this ailment, which calls for a different course of treatment. The patient might require therapy and antidepressant medication rather than injections of migraine drugs or over-the-counter pain relievers. Additionally, the person might benefit from therapeutic massages or acupuncture.

This approach to medicine realizes that one aspect of a person's wellness influences the others in the body and state of mind. When one aspect of the patient's health suffers, the rest of the body and mind likewise are at risk of failing. The idea is to be proactive in stopping the initial cause so that the person can enjoy overall stable and positive health.

You may not find these types of facilities available in mainstream locations like your local hospital or healthcare clinics. You might need to look at alternative facilities including those staffed almost entirely by nurses. Doctors in mainstream medicine have yet to embrace this approach to medicine.

Acupuncturists, therapeutic massage providers, and alternative healthcare businesses typically will be your best option for finding this type of care in your city. They may or may not accept insurance. However, many of them offer services that are lower in price and more readily available than what you could find at your family physician's office or the local hospital.

Overall, however, you could benefit by having your health assessed holistically instead of just as a collection of symptoms or physical signs of distress. You will be treated as a whole person and not as someone suffering from a specific illness or injury. This proactive approach could improve your health and help you avoid the same illnesses and injuries in the future.




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