AHNA Core Values

CORE VALUE 1: Holistic Philosophy, Theories, and Ethics Summary Detail
CORE VALUE 2: Holistic Education and Research Summary Detail
CORE VALUE 3: Holistic Nurse Self-Care Summary Detail
CORE VALUE 4: Holistic Communication, Therapeutic Environment, and Cultural Diversity Summary Detail
CORE VALUE 5: Holistic Caring Process Summary Detail

Summary of AHNA Core Values

CORE VALUE 1: Holistic Philosophy, Theories, and Ethics Detail Top
Holistic nursing practice is based on the philosophy and theory of holism and the foundation of ethical practice.
1.1 Holistic Philosophy. Holistic nurses develop and expand their conceptual framework and overall philosophy in the art and science of holistic nursing to effectively model, practice, teach, and conduct research. Detail
1.2 Holistic Theories. Nursing theories that are holistic, and other relevant theories, provide the framework for all aspects of holistic nursing practice and leadership. Detail
1.3 Holistic Ethics. Holistic nurses hold to a professional ethic of caring and healing that seeks to preserve wholeness and dignity of themselves and all persons/families/communities in all practice settings. Detail

CORE VALUE 2: Holistic Education and Research Detail Top
Holistic nursing practice is guided by, and developed through, holistic education and research.
2.1 Holistic Education. Holistic nurses acquire and maintain current knowledge and competency in holistic nursing practice. Detail
2.2 Holistic Research. Holistic nurses provide care and guidance to persons through nursing interventions and holistic therapies consistent with research findings and other sound evidence. Detail

CORE VALUE 3: Holistic Nurse Self-Care Detail Top
Holistic nursing practice requires the integration of self-care and personal development activities into one's life.
3.1 Holistic Nurse Self-Care. Holistic nurses engage in holistic self-assessment, self-care, and personal development, aware of being instruments of healing to better serve self and others. Detail

CORE VALUE 4: Holistic Communication, Therapeutic Environment, and Cultural Diversity Detail Top
Holistic nursing practice honors and includes holistic communication, therapeutic environment, and cultural diversity as foundational concepts.
4.1 Holistic Communication. Holistic nurses engage in holistic communication to ensure that each person experiences the presence of the nurse as authentic and sincere; there is an atmosphere of shared humanness that includes a sense of connectedness and attention reflecting the individual's uniqueness. Detail
4.2 Therapeutic Environment. Holistic nurses recognize that each person's environment includes everything within and surrounding the individual, as well as patterns not yet understood. Detail
4.3 Cultural Diversity. Holistic nurses recognize each person as a whole body-mind-emotion-spirit being and mutually create a plan of care consistent with cultural background, health beliefs and practices, sexual orientation, values, and preferences. Detail

CORE VALUE 5: Holistic Caring Process Detail Top
Holistic nursing practice is guided by the holistic caring process, whether used with individuals, families, population groups, or communities. This circular process involves the following six steps, which may occur simultaneously.
5.1 Assessment. Holistic nurses assess each person holistically using appropriate conventional and holistic methods while the uniqueness of the person is honored. Detail
5.2 Patterns/Challenges/Needs. Holistic nurses identify and prioritize each person's actual and potential patterns/challenges/ needs and life processes related to health, wellness, disease, or illness, which may or may not facilitate well-being. Detail
5.3 Outcomes. Holistic nurses specify appropriate outcomes for each person's actual or potential patterns/challenges/needs. Detail
5.4 Therapeutic Care Plans. Holistic nurses engage each person to mutually create an appropriate plan of care that focuses on health promotion, recovery, restoration, or peaceful dying so that the person is as independent as possible. Detail
5.5 Implementation. Holistic nurses prioritize each person's plan of holistic care, and holistic nursing interventions are implemented accordingly. Detail
5.6 Evaluation. Holistic nurses evaluate each person's response to holistic care regularly and systematically and the continuing holistic nature of the healing process is recognized and honored. Detail

Detail of AHNA Core Values

CORE VALUE 1: Holistic Philosophy, Theories, and Ethics   Summary  Top
Holistic nursing practic is based on the philosophy and theory of holism and the foundation of ethical practice.

1.1 Holistic Philosophy
Holistic nurses develop and expand their conceptual framework and overall philosophy in the art and science of holistic nursing to model, practice, teach, and conduct research in the most effective manner possible.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
1.1.1 recognize the person's capacity for self-healing and the importance of supporting the natural development and unfolding of that capacity.
1.1.2 support, share, and recognize expertise and competency in holistic nursing practice that is used in many diverse clinical and community settings.
1.1.3 participate in person-centered care by being a partner, coach, and mentor who actively listens and supports others in reaching personal goals.
1.1.4 focus on strategies to bring harmony, unity, and healing to the nursing profession.
1.1.5 communicate with traditional health care practitioners about appropriate referrals to other holistic practitioners when needed.
1.1.6 interact with professional organizations in a leadership or membership capacity at local, state, national, and international levels to further expand the knowledge and practice of holistic nursing and awareness of holistic health issues.

1.2 Holistic Theories.
Nursing theories that are holistic, and other relevant theories, provide the framework for all aspects of holistic nursing practice and leadership.  Summary  Top

Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
1.2.1 strive to use nursing theories to develop holistic nursing practice and transformational leadership.
1.2.2 interpret, use, and document information relevant to a person's care according to a theoreticalframework.

1.3 Holistic Ethics
Holistic nurses hold to a professional ethic of caring and healing that seeks to preserve wholeness and dignity of themselves and all persons/families/communities in all practice settings.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
1.3.1 identify the ethics of caring and its contribution to unity of self, others, nature, and God/Life Force/Absolute/ Transcendent as central to holistic nursing practice.
1.3.2 integrate the standards of holistic nursing practice with applicable state laws and regulations governing nursing practice.
1.3.3 engage in activities that respect, nurture, and enhance the integral relationship with the earth, and advocate for the well-being of the global community's economy, education, and social justice.
1.3.4 advocate for the rights of patients to have educated choices into their plan of care.
1.3.5 participate in peer evaluation to ensure knowledge and competency in holistic nursing practice.
1.3.6 protect the personal privacy and confidentiality of individuals, especially with health care agencies and managed care organizations.

CORE VALUE 2: Holistic Education and Research   Summary  Top
Holistic nursing practice is guided by, and developed through, holistic education and research.

2.1 Holistic Education
Holistic nurses acquire and maintain current knowledge and competency in holistic nursing practice.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
2.1.1 participate in activities of continuing education and related fields that have relevance to holistic nursing practice.
2.1.2 identify areas of knowledge from nursing and various fields such as biomedical, epidemiology, behavioral medicine, cultural and social theories.
2.1.3 continually develop and standardize holistic nursing guidelines, protocols and practice to promote competency in holistic nursing practice and assure quality of care to individuals.
2.1.4 use the results of quality care activities to initiate change in holistic nursing practice.
2.1.5 may seek certification in holistic nursing as one means of advancing the philosophy and practice of holistic nursing.

2.2 Holistic Nursing and Related Research
Holistic nurses provide care and guidance to persons through nursing interventions and holistic therapies consistent with research findings and other sound evidence.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
2.2.1 use available research and evidence from different explanatory models to mutually create a plan of care with a person.
2.2.2 use expert clinical judgment to select appropriate interventions.
2.2.3 discuss holistic application to clinical situations where rigorous research has not been done.
2.2.4 create an environment conducive to systematic inquiry into healing and health issues by engaging in research or supporting and utilizing the research of others.
2.2.5 disseminate research findings at meetings and through publications to further develop the foundation and practice of holistic nursing.
2.2.6 provide consultation services on holistic nursing interventions to persons and communities based on researc

CORE VALUE 3: Holistic Nurse Self-Care Summary Top
Holistic nursing practice requires the integration of self-care and personal development activities into one's life.

3.1 Holistic Nurse Self-Care
Holistic nurses engage in holistic self-assessment, self-care, and personal development, aware of being instruments of healing to better serve self and others.Summary Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
3.1.1 recognize that a person's body-mind-spirit has healing capacities that can be enhanced and supported through self-care practices.
3.1.2 identify and integrate self-care strategies to enhance their physical, psychological, sociological, and spiritual well-being.
3.1.3 recognize and address at-risk health patterns and begin the process of change.
3.1.4 consciously cultivate awareness and understanding about the deeper meaning, purpose, inner strengths, and connections with self, others, nature, and God/Life Force/Absolute/Transcendent.
3.1.5 use clear intention to care for self and to seek a sense of balance, harmony, and joy in daily life.
3.1.6 participate in the evolutionary holistic process with the understanding that crisis creates opportunity in any setting.

CORE VALUE 4: Holistic Communication, Therapeutic Environment, and Cultural Diversity  Summary  Top
Holistic nursing practice honors and includes holistic communication, therapeutic environment, and cultural diversity as foundational concepts.

4.1 Holistic Communication
Holistic nurses engage in holistic communication to ensure that each person experiences the presence of the nurse as authentic and sincere; there is an atmosphere of shared humanness that includes a sense of connectedness and attention reflecting the individual's uniqueness.  Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
4.1.1 develop an awareness of the most frequently encountered challenges to holistic communication.
4.1.2 increase therapeutic and cultural competence skills to enhance their effectiveness through listening to themselves and others.
4.1.3 explore with each person those strategies that can assist her/him, as desired, to understand the deeper meaning, purpose, inner strengths, and connections with self, others, nature, and God/Life Force/Absolute/Transcendent.
4.1.4 recognize that holistic communication and awareness of individuals is a continuously evolving multi-level exchange that offers itself through dreams, images, symbols, sensations, meditations, and prayers.
4.1.5 respect the person's health trajectory which may be incongruent with conventional wisdom.

4.2 Therapeutic Environment
Holistic nurses recognize that each person's environment includes everything that surrounds the individual, both the external and the internal (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) as well as patterns not yet understood.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
4.2.1 promote environments conducive to experiencing healing, wholeness and harmony, and care for the person in as healthy an environment as possible.
4.2.2 work toward creating organizations that value sacred space and environments that enhance healing.
4.2.3 integrate holistic principles, standards, policies and procedures in relation to environmental safety and emergency preparedness.
4.2.4 recognize that the well-being of the ecosystem of the planet is a prior determining condition for the well-being of the human.
4.2.5 promote social networks and social environments where healing can take place.

4.3 Cultural Diversity
Holistic nurses recognize each person as a whole body-mind-emotion-spirit being and mutually create a plan of care consistent with cultural background, health beliefs and practices, sexual orientation, values, and preferences.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
4.3.1 assess and incorporate the person's cultural practices, values, beliefs, meanings of health, illness, and risk behaviors in care and health education.
4.3.2 use appropriate community resources and experts to extend their understanding of different cultures.
4.3.3 assess for discriminatory practices and change as necessary.
4.3.4 identify discriminatory health care practices as they impact the person and engage in effective nondiscriminatory practices.

CORE VALUE 5: Holistic Caring Process  Summary  Top
Holistic nursing practice is guided by the holistic caring process, whether used with individuals, families, population groups, or communities. This circular process involves the following six steps, which may occur simultaneously.

5.1 Assessment   Summary  Top
Holistic nurses assess each person holistically using appropriate conventional and holistic methods while the uniqueness of the person is honored.
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
5.1.1 use an assessment process including appropriate traditional and holistic methods to systematically gather information.
5.1.2 value all types of knowing including intuition when gathering data from a person and validate this intuitive knowledge with the person when appropriate.

5.2 Patterns/Challenges/Needs   Summary  Top
Holistic nurses identify and prioritize each person's actual and potential patterns/challenges/needs and life processes related to health, wellness, disease, or illness, which may or may not facilitate well being.
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
5.2.1 assist the person to access inner wisdom that can provide opportunities to enhance and support growth, development and movement towards health and well-being.
5.2.2 collect data and collaborate with the person and health care team members as appropriate to identify and record a list of actual and potential patterns/challenges/needs.
5.2.3 use collected data to formulate an etiology of the person's identified actual or potential patterns/challenges/needs.
5.2.4 make referrals to other holistic practitioners or traditional therapist when appropriate.

5.3 Outcomes
Holistic nurses specify appropriate outcomes for each person's actual or potential patterns/challenges/needs.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
5.3.1 honor the person in all phases of her/his healing process regardless of expectations or outcomes.
5.3.2 identify and partner with the person to specify measurable outcomes and realistic goals.

5.4 Therapeutic Care Plan
Holistic nurses engage each person to mutually create an appropriate plan of care that focuses on health promotion, recovery, restoration, or peaceful dying so that the person is as independent as possible.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
5.4.1 partner with the person in a mutual decision process to create a health care plan for each pattern/challenge/need or opportunity to enhance health and well-being.
5.4.2 help a person identify areas for education to make decisions about life choices in a conscious, informed manner that empowers the person to maintain her/his uniqueness and independence.
5.4.3 offer self-assessment tools, word associations, storytelling, dreams, journals as appropriate.
5.4.4 use skills of cultural competence and communicate acceptance of the person's values, belief, culture, religion, and socioeconomic background.
5.4.5 assist the person in recognizing at-risk patterns/challenges/needs for potential or existing health situations (e.g., personal habits, personal and family health history, age-related risk factors), and also assist in recognizing opportunities to enhance well-being.
5.4.6 engage the person in problem-solving dialogue in relation to living with changes secondary to illness and treatment.

5.5 Implementation
Holistic nurses prioritize each person's plan of holistic care, and holistic nursing interventions are implemented accordingly.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
5.5.1 implement the mutually created plan of care within the context of assisting the person towards the higher potential of health and well-being.
5.5.2 support and promote the person's capacity for the highest level of participation and problem-solving in the plan of care and collaborate with other health team members when appropriate.
5.5.3 use holistic nursing skills in implementing care including cultural competency and all ways of knowing.
5.5.4 advocate that the person's plan, choices, and unique healing journey be honored.
5.5.5 provide care that is clear about and respectful of the economic parameters of practice, balancing justice with compassion.

5.6 Evaluation
Holistic nurses evaluate each person's response to holistic care regularly and systematically and the continuing holistic nature of the healing process is recognized and honored.   Summary  Top
Standards of Practice Holistic nurses:
5.6.1 collaborate with the person and with other health care team members when appropriate in evaluating holistic outcomes.
5.6.2 explore with the person her/his understanding of the cause of any significant deviation between the responses and the expected outcomes.
5.6.3 mutually create with the person and other team members a revised plan if needed