5^th World Holistic Nursing Conference

Statement of the Problem: Nurses and other health care professionals have experienced limitations in expansion of holistic and integrative medicine into standard health care practices. While conventional medicine excels in acute care, holistic and integrative health focuses on utilizing the best of all global healing traditions to prevent disease and improve health outcomes. Research demonstrates that chronic diseases like CV disease, dementia and diabetes can be dramatically improved through lifestyle. Despite extensive data demonstrating

improved patient outcomes, organizational restrictions, lack of resources and education and limited awareness of ways to introduce and practice these approaches to healing have remained a barrier. Insight and solutions to incorporating new approaches in practice are needed; the world suff ers from chronic diseases that are largely

preventable. Th is session explores the work pioneered in North America to transform health care and the health care system utilizing a holistic treatment model which integrates conventional and natural medicine. Conclusion & Signifi cance: Nurses and other healthcare providers want guidance and education to enhance patient care and treatment with holistic and integrative medicine approaches; however, institutional systems and/or lack of resources and awareness oft en inhibit this evolution. Recommendations are made to increase awareness of how to introduce and practice holistic and integrative medicine anywhere.