The Holistic Nursing Assistant 5 The Providing Holistic Care Framework includes the key knowledge and skills you will need to know as a holistic nursing assistant. These knowledge and skills include being professional, using critical thinking, caring and effectively communicating, having cultural humility, and building skills competence. The framework also includes the healthcare environment in which you will work. Holistic nursing assistants must be knowledgeable about different healthcare delivery systems and the workplace, familiar with facility policies and procedures, and capable of working effectively as team members. The framework show the important interactions between residents families, friends, and significant others the holistic nursing assistant and the healthcare facility. The arrows in the framework represent the support each individual or entity gives to the others. For example, family members support a resident, but may also work closely with a holistic nursing assistant to help make sure the resident’s needs are met. Similarly, understanding facility policies and effectively demonstrating procedures help holistic nursing assistants provide safe, quality care. An effective holistic nursing assistant is aware of a resident’s disease process and knows how to respond or take action (for example, by providing assistance with activities of daily living, or ADLs). Holistic nursing assistants are also responsible for responding to residents’ needs, emotions, and feelings. Of great importance in caregiving is sensitivity to the holistic dimensions of the body, mind, and spirit. To provide care that integrates the body, mind, and spirit, holistic nursing assistants must not only respond to physical needs (body), but must also focus on the mind, which includes the resident’s needs, wants, feelings, and emotions. Understanding the spirit is also important. The spirit is a person’s higher self, which includes perceptions, sensations, values, culture, and religion. By using this holistic approach, caregivers establish an environment that supports the whole person and does not just focus on, respond to, and care for a disease. The holistic approach promotes healing and helps residents achieve overall well-being. As you build your holistic knowledge and skills as a nursing assistant, you will also become aware of how you, as a person, must become sensitive to Providing Holistic Care: A Framework Holistic Care Body, Mind, Spirit Holistic Nursing Assistant Requirements Professionalism Self-Refl ection Self-Care Critical Thinking Caring and Communication Skills Interpersonal and Team Relationships Cultural Humility Skill Competence Time, Energy, and Priority Management Legal, Ethical, Safe, Quality Practice Resident Factors Affecting Well-Being Disease Process or Condition Needs and Development Independence and Self-Reliance ADL and Mobility Environment Culture Spirituality Relationships Healthcare Environment Delivery Systems Facilities Workplace Policies and Procedures Healthcare Team Family Friends Signifi cant Others Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 1.2 The Providing Holistic Care Framework shows the important interactions and support between each entity. The topics covered in Chapter 1 are highlighted in this framework. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.