A biannual publication of the
School of Nursing and Health Care Practices,
Southern Cross University,
in association with the
Australian College of Holistic Nurses Inc.
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|
A biannual publication of the School of Nursing and Health Care Practices, Southern Cross University, in association with the Australian College of Holistic Nurses Inc. |
|
12(2): 51 Book Review
Tucakovic M 2005 Nursing as an Aesthetic Praxis AuthorHouse, Bloomington, Indiana
Review by Professor Beverley TaylorExtract: …Even though the topics of praxis and aesthetics may seem daunting, the book is constructed in such a way as to unfold its wisdom in manageable chapters. Multiple foundations of stories, insights and literature are laid down skilfully, as super-strong premises, on which to build some very large, universal conclusions about the nature of human existence and why we exist at all. The end effect is to see not only the beauty of nursing as a reflective, changing and evolving practice, but also to get a glimpse into the power and energy of tiny and relatively simple interpersonal acts of care, central to beauty and God consciousness…
12(1): 4-10 Feature Article
The phenomenon of presence within contemporary nursing practice: A literature review
Di Welch RN, BAppSci(Nursing), MHlthSci(Research).
Sally Wellard RN, BA(SocSci), Post-Basic Renal Cert, MN, PhD.Di and Sally have explored the literature to assist us in establishing a personal understanding of presence and the definitive role it plays in our practice.
Abstract: Nursing practice underpinned by humanistic values may promote presence experiences within nurse–patient interactions. These interactions are powerful and beneficial both to nurse and patient. However, the phenomenon of presence is surrounded by competing and confused definitions. Whilst presence is arguably a core aspect of nursing practice, current health care environments significantly influence nurses’ opportunities to experience presence.
Key words: Presence, Intersubjectivity, Nursing practice, Positive outcomes, Devaluation.
12(1): 11-20 Feature Article
Factors shaping Indigenous mental health: An ethnographic account of growing up Koori from a Gubba perspective
Tony O’Brien RN (RGN, RPN), BA, MEd.Stud, PhD
Indigenous Australians reveal deep insights as they talk about their perceptions of mental health in relation to their personal identification as Aboriginal.
Abstract: This paper presents selected themes derived from stories provided by Aboriginal youth and adult community members during a doctoral research study. The study was conducted in an Aboriginal community in NSW, Australia. The ethnographic research was titled ‘The development of mental health in Koori adolescents: Stories and memories from their youth’.
The themes emerged from the data and provide a deeper insight into the notion of mental health from the perspective of the Aboriginal people in this study.
12(1): Book Review
Wright LM 2005 Spirituality, Suffering, and Illness: Ideas for Healing F A Davis Company, Philadelphia.
Reviewed by Bev Taylor
This book inspires the reader to look deeply into the phenomenon of suffering and its relationship to illness and spirituality. Through people’s narratives, the author has captured the meaning of suffering and how suffering can lead us to transcendent levels of knowing, experienced as spirituality. Even though the book has a substantial academic component, as evidenced in relevant professional literature, it nevertheless manages to entice the reader into listening in on conversations about suffering, because of its focus on the experiencing human.
Chapters are devoted to spirituality, suffering and illness in everyday life; reflections and learning about suffering; the literature; the Trinity Model of beliefs, suffering and spirituality; clinical practices that help healing; and connecting the personal and professional in matters of suffering, spirituality and illness. This book would not only be useful for nurses and health care workers in sensitising their practices to suffering, but it would also be a useful resource for researchers, whose projects are within the area of illness, suffering and spirituality.
11(1): 4-15 Feature Article
Strategies for coping with spiritual pain: A comparison of insights from survivors and hospice patients
Pam McGrath BSocWk; MA; PhD
The participants in Pam’s study generously provide insights into their spiritual distress thereby extending our understanding on ways to respond.
Abstract: The article presents recent findings on survivors' strategies for dealing with 'spiritual pain'. The insights are compared to previously published data from the same study looking at hospice patients. The discussion provides nurses with insights to strategies used by survivors to cope with adjusting to life post-treatment, how that differs from hospice patients, and the implication of such insights for nursing practice.
Keywords: Spiritual pain, Holistic care, Psycho-social oncology, Spirituality, Qualitative research. Introduction
Introduction
In the last couple of decades there has been a plethora of articles arguing that spirituality is an important dimension of holistic nursing practice (Loyer 1995). There is now a strong imperative within the literature that nurses committed to caring for the whole person should be knowledgeable about patients' spiritual needs (Davis 1994; Efficace & Marrone 2002; Ersek & Ferrell 1994; Gioiella, Berkman & Robinson 1998; Goddard 1995; Halstead & Hull 2001; Kuuppelomaki 2002; Kristeller, Zumbrun & Schilling 1999; Murray 1995; Narayanasamy 1993; Shuster, Steeves, Onega & Richardson 1996; Taylor, Amenta & Highfield, 1994, 1995; Thomas & Retsas 1999). The call to increase nursing skills in spiritual care is considered important in oncology because nursing researchers in cancer care are more likely to study issues relating to spirituality than researchers in other fields of nursing (Flannelly, Flannelly & Weaver 2002).
10(1): 22-29
Refereed Feature ArticleThe Use of Prayer in Spiritual Care
Ruth Lo (RN, PhD)
The role of prayer to our patients and its role in holistic practice is explored by Ruth.
Abstract: Prayer is an integral component of the spiritual life of mankind. Prayer allows people to express themselves during crisis and emotional turmoil. It can serve as an important source of personal strength and as a foundation for self-resilience during times of adversity. Holistic nurses may use prayer with patients to positively influence how patients cope with anxiety relative to illness.
Keywords: spirituality, prayer, holistic care, nurses, spiritual health, spiritual well-being
1(1): 16-27
Refereed Feature Article
Marina Tucakovic
Spiritual Aesthetics in Nursing: Within and without, me and you, above and below
Spiritual aesthetics in nursing is about love, beauty and truth
Abstract Spiritual aesthetics in nursing is a pattern of knowing that in-forms nursing as an aspect of caring. The prevailing ideology has represented the art of nursing as masculinist energy. This paper describes the acknowledgement of the polar opposite energy of the feminine, in which one comes to know beauty through feeling, to create a union of the masculine and feminine energies. In this way, spirituality in nursing becomes a mode of human being in which there is love, beauty and truth.
2(1): 31-37
Non-Refereed Occasional Paper
Robert Loyer
Spirituality in Nursing: Towards a definition
A review of the literature of the last two decades
Abstract Is spirituality a dimension of experience that needs to be incorporated into nursing practice, particularly when that practice claims to be ‘holistic’ in orientation? These past two decades have seen the publication of several hundred journal articles by nurses who have been arguing that there is indeed a place for spirituality and that it is integral to the practice of holistic nursing. A number of these articles are reviewed here. Suggestions are made about future directions that could be taken to encourage further dialogue in this area.
3(1): 48
Book Review
Lyn Ramsay reviews Stoter 1995 Spiritual Aspects of Health Care USA: Mosby
5(1):46
Practitioners
Forum
Kirsten James
An Ecumenical Approach to Healthcare
Abstract Nurses are now poised to embrace a range of different skills and tools that can help to manifest a truly ecumenical and holistic approach to health care.
5(2): 19
Poem
JM Barwick
"Presencing"
6(2): 4-9
Refereed Feature Article
Ruth Lo
Ron
Brown
Holistic care and spirituality: Potential for increasing spiritual dimensions of nursing.
Ruth & Ron discuss ways in which the promotion of spiritual well-being can support clients in their journey to find meaning and hope in life and peace in death.
Abstract Holistic care addresses the physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions of the client. Health care providers, however, frequently overlook the spiritual dimension. Spiritual care is inseparable from physical, social and psychological care because together they form the whole. Promoting spiritual well-being supports clients in their journey to find meaning and hope in life and peace in death. The preparation of nurses for the spiritual aspects of care deserves much more attention.
6(2): 39-41
Non-Refereed Occasional Paper1
Marina Tucakovic
Working with the notion of soul in nursing.
Marina shares how working at soul level calls forth a different type of nursing practice.
Abstract The word soul can be found in some of nursing’s theoretical works. The notion of soul as it is perceived in conjunction with either our immortality or mortality is expressed by various idioms in other disciplines.
6(2):
47
Connections
Geoff Meers
A personal introduction to Vipassana Meditiation
7(1):
31-35
Non-Refereed Occasional Paper
Fiona Bell
The complex ‘whole’: Exploring homoeopathic and spiritual considerations
Fiona focuses on developing a deeper understanding of the nature and role of holistic health care through an exploration of homeopathy and spiritual considerations.
Abstract Unlike the biomedical model, holistic health care takes a much broader view of what constitutes health and the responsibility for helping restore an individual’s health. Homeopathy addresses the physical, mental and emotional aspects of the whole individual, while alternative practices such as yoga, hypnotherapy and meditation can be described as ‘functional’ spiritual practices which demonstrate the taking of personal responsibility for health care to the individual.