Bottom Line: Holistic Nursing Assessments Have Better Patient Outcomes
Nursing assessments are completed in many different ways. Some are short and include taking a set of vital signs and asking a few questions. Other nursing assessments may be lengthier. It all depends on the setting in which they are being completed and the type of assessment the nurse feels is best suited for the particular patient. You will learn here that a holistic nursing assessment is the preferred method for a higher standard of care.
A holistic nursing assessment focuses on more than just the physical condition of the patient. It also evaluates the patient’s psychological, spiritual, and social status. These factors are all intertwined to make up a whole person. When the nurse considers the patient’s mind, body and spirit during the assessment, a more comprehensive assessment is secured, leading to an improved plan of care, and ultimately, better outcomes for the patient.
A holistic nursing assessment and approach promotes elevated health and wellness. According to NIH, “Holistic Care increases the depth of care providers’ understanding of patients and their needs.” Without fully understanding the patient’s circumstances, the nursing plan of care cannot be comprehensive. When every aspect is considered in developing the plan, the outcome for the patient will be improved. Let’s review a few scenarios that emphasize the importance of a holistic nursing assessment.
Think about a patient with a diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure). A minimal nursing assessment will include taking the patient’s vital signs, reviewing medication and completing a head-to-toe assessment. A holistic nursing assessment for this same patient will check vital signs, review medication and complete a head-to-toe assessment too, but it will dive deeper and ask questions related to the whole person.
For example, it would be important for the nurse to know that this patient has a high level of stress related to recent job loss. The patient may be worried about finances; and therefore, choosing to eat foods that cost less, which may have a high sodium content. In this scenario, stress and sodium can increase blood pressure so the nursing plan of care should teach the patient coping mechanisms for stress and provide education on appropriate nutrition options for a limited budget.
Take another scenario where a patient is being evaluated for recent weight loss. During a holistic nursing assessment, the nurse will check height, weight, vital signs and complete a head-to-toe assessment. The nurse will also ask questions related to the psychological, spiritual and social aspects of the patient. This interview may reveal that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the patient had not been able to attend church services, which is where they receive most of their social interaction. This spiritual and social loss created depression, which resulted in loss of appetite. The plan of care here will encompass more than just an increase in caloric intake.
Without applying a holistic approach to these nursing assessment examples, it is possible that potential contributors to medical diagnoses could have been missed. Not everyone with the diagnosis of hypertension or weight loss has the same physical, psychological, spiritual or social needs. A one-size-fits-all treatment plan isn’t appropriate and will not lead to better outcomes. The next time you are being assessed by a nurse, remember it’s your health and wellness. You deserve a holistic nursing assessment that focuses on you as a whole person, not just your diagnosis.
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