Journal of holistic nursing : official journal of the American Holistic Nurses' Association
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New Zealand nurses are active and dynamic emerging holistic practitioners. Despite an economic recession and dramatic changes in their health care delivery systems, the country's holistic nurses have mobilized to develop and begin a holistic nurses' association. ⋯ Although New Zealand is distant from North America geographically, there have been increasing numbers of exchange visits and subsequent influence on international holistic nursing practice. New Zealand, being a lush, green, clean, semitropical country in the South Pacific, is a wonderful place for North American nurses to experience cross-cultural nursing while still being in an English-speaking country.
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A significant number of people suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome have become more and more discouraged by the traditional medical approach, which seems to lack the proper perspective on the disease. Unfortunately, very little published information is available about specific holistic health management practices used for these patients. It is the purpose of this article to examine a specific holistic practice, called Amma Therapy, as an alternative approach for the management of this syndrome.
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Sexuality is an important part of human health and should be addressed in numerous aspects of nursing care. Many nurses have difficulty providing patients with care in the area of sexuality, however, and usually do not address sexual concerns unless the patient asks specific questions. ⋯ Regression analyses indicated that attitudes were not influenced by variables such as age, gender, or marital status. These findings suggest that nurses can feel comfortable addressing sexuality with many more of their clients and that when unsure about discussing sexuality with clients, nurses should refer clients to their physicians.
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An important element in American Indian cultures is a holistic view of wellness. Nurses attempting to provide holistic, culturally sensitive health services to American Indian clients must assess the cultural orientation of their clients and have culture-specific knowledge. A pilot qualitative study was conducted at the Crow Indian Reservation in south central Montana. ⋯ These categories are use of rituals/ceremonies, indigenous healers, and sacred objects. Five patterns of use of traditional health practices were also discovered. These are (a) initial use of traditional practices followed by modern health services, (b) initial use of modern health services followed by traditional practices, (c) simultaneous bicultural use, (d) traditional use only, and (e) modern use only.
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A significant number of children with sickle cell disease suffer from episodes of acute recurrent vaso-occlusive pain crisis. Unfortunately, very limited published information is available about specific pain management practices used for these patients. ⋯ The purpose of this article is to review the genetic cellular pathophysiology, the sickling process, vaso-occlusive crisis, and management of pain associated with sickle cell disease in children. The article further examines an interdisciplinary approach for the management of vaso-occlusive pain crisis.