Integrative and holistic nursing approaches focus on the whole patient rather than just their symptoms or medical condition. While it is easy to get bogged down in charting and administering medications, nurses must not neglect a patient’s mental, spiritual, environmental, emotional, and social health goals.
Integrating nature-based interventions has a profound impact on a patient’s health and well-being. The best part is that these interventions do not need to be time-consuming or resource heavy. Integrating natural remedies is both safe and effective.
Related CE podcast for nurses: Nurse’s Role in Functional Medicine: Shaping Holistic Care
Nature-based interventions in holistic nursing
Nurses, even those working in hospitals and acute care areas, can integrate nature-based interventions to improve the quality of life and quality of care for their patients. Research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology indicates that even viewing natural scenes, such as looking through an open window or at a picture of a river, can decrease vagal tone and reduce the autonomic nervous system response.
Patients benefit greatly from nature-based and holistic nursing interventions. Multiple studies have shown that these treatments are both safe and effective for all patient populations.
Natural light exposure
Natural light is one of the easiest and most effective tools that can be used to improve patient health. Direct sunlight is the best option for patients but opening a window or even using light therapy lamps can make a difference.
Without natural light, patients in intensive care units are at a high risk of experiencing ICU delirium, which can cause severe confusion, agitation, depression, and hallucinations. One study, published in the Journal of Acute Critical Care, showed that patients placed in an ICU room with a window had fewer symptoms of delirium compared to those without windows.
In another example, the Journal of American Medical Directors Association published a study showing that older adults in long-term care settings had improved sleep scores after exposure to light therapy. Longer exposure during the day was associated with improved sleep at night.
Related CE podcast for nurses: A Healthy Dose of Outdoors: Nature-Based Interventions
Animal-assisted therapy
Hospitals and long-term care centers frequently use animal-assisted therapy to improve outcomes for patients at risk of depression, anxiety, or hopelessness. Animal-assisted therapy may include dogs, cats, horses, and even reptiles.
Patients can participate in animal-assisted therapy by holding, petting, or even just being near animals. Animals and their handlers typically must complete training, immunizations, health screenings, and certification in order to participate in animal-assisted therapies. While the training is not as extensive as what is required for service animals, there are still many hoops to jump through.
Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to be extremely effective for neurological disorders, anxiety, depression, and psychiatric disorders.
Nature exposure through windows
Natural light coming through a window is a great way to improve patient outcomes. Being able to see gardens, trees, mountains, or landscapes through a window is even better. Patients who have a view of natural landscapes or gardens from their window report feeling calmer, less depressed, and more socially connected than those who do not have windows or who only have views of man-made structures.
Integrating guided meditation or nature sounds can compound the calming effect of natural scenes. Mediation for even a minute or two can help a patient feel calmer and better able to cope with difficulties.
Indoor plants and gardens
According to Environmental Science and Pollution Research, indoor plants have a positive effect on performance, decrease stress levels, and improve health outcomes. Indoor plants can improve mental health and increase feelings of calm. Live plants can even act as good air-purifiers.
Avoid indoor plants in severely immunocompromised patients. This includes those undergoing chemotherapy treatment or who have recently had an organ transplant.
Horticultural therapy
Horticultural therapy improves cognition, muscle strength, balance, and mental health outcomes. This type of therapy uses therapeutic gardens. It can include both passive and active participation in gardening and care of the plants. A therapeutic garden must meet the following criteria:
- Scheduled and programmed activities
- Features modified to improve accessibility
- Well-defined perimeters
- A profusion of plants and people/plant interactions
- Supportive conditions
- Universal design
- Recognizable placemaking
The American Horticultural Therapy Association has been working to make these types of gardens more accessible. At the same time, they are helping to certify more therapists throughout the country.
Essential oils
Essential oils have become more mainstream in recent years. Healthcare professionals hotly debate their popularity. The use of essential oils in combination with other therapies can give patients an improved sense of well-being. Essential oils are safe when used as directed, and can reduce pain, improve sleep, and promote feelings of calm.
Some of the most popular essential oils and their uses include:
- Lavender: Relaxation
- Tea tree: Mental boost
- Peppermint: Energy and reduction of nausea
- Eucalyptus: Clearing congestion
- Lemon: Mental clarity
Practicing holistic nursing
Holistic therapies are most effective when combined with other types of therapies and when providers use a patient-centered approach. Establishing a good patient-provider relationship is essential for finding the best treatments and strategies to implement.
