Strategies Christian Nurses Use to Create a Healing Environment

Jane Pfeiffer

doi:10.3390/rel9110352

Abstract

From Nightingale forward, nursing has understood that interaction of person, nurse, and environment facilitates optimal outcomes. Yet, there remains a need for research on the paradigm concept of environment and creation of a healing environment. This classical, grounded theory study aimed to identify (1) strategies Christian nurses used to create a healing environment and enhance well-being, (2) outcomes they perceived resulting from these strategies, and (3) factors they regarded as either enhancing or inhibiting the creation of the healing environments. A criterion-based, purposive sample of Christian nurses (N = 15) was interviewed between June 2013 and January 2014 until data saturation was reached. Data were analyzed using constant comparative methods in consultation with a grounded theory expert. “Charting the healing path,” the core category, consists of four phases: helping patients get better, fostering the healing environment, charting a healing path, and observing outcomes. The “charting the healing path” model informs development of the environment domain of nursing knowledge. Knowing the patient, the juncture of nurse and patient points of view, and the resultant nurse–patient partnership promote best potential outcomes to be realized incrementally during, and after, hospitalization.

Highlights

Nurses are the front-line caregivers in hospitalized patients’ recovery from illness
The phases described belowof and study presented used in creation of a healing environment
Nurses observed what clues were visible visible in in the the patient patient environment environment whether whether rosaries, rosaries, readings or scriptures, family pictures, tattoos, etc. These findings offered conversational assessment of readings or scriptures, family pictures, tattoos, etc

Summary

Introduction

Nurses are the front-line caregivers in hospitalized patients’ recovery from illness. They are purposefully engaged in healing and promotion of well-being. The nurse–patient relationship is understood as the basis for transforming the patient illness experience into one of patient and family gaining knowledge and experience that fosters health This in-hospital experience is intended to influence recovery both within and beyond the hospital as the patient returns to home and community (Young et al 2015). From Nightingale forward, nurses have employed principles of health and hygiene embedded in nature to promote healing (Pfettscher 2010; Nightingale 1992) In addition to these Nightingale identified principles, patients need knowledge and compassionate assistance to progress in recovery. The challenge of shaping one’s professional practice environment to be a healing, patient-centered environment includes relationships of significance, physical surroundings, and the setting in which nursing occurs

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion