Which concept underpins holistic nursing practice?

• A. Independence and autonomy
• B. Overall well-being of patients
• C. Speed of task completion
• D. Facility funding

Answer: (B)

Holistic nursing practice centers on promoting the overall well-being of patients by addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, as well as personal values and preferences. This integrated focus means care aims to support a person’s total health and quality of life, not just treat a single symptom or disease. That’s why the concept underpinning holistic practice is the overall well-being of patients.

Independence and autonomy are important aspects of patient-centered care and respecting a person’s rights, but they describe a specific facet of care rather than the whole approach. Speed of task completion reflects efficiency, which is not the guiding idea of holistic care. Facility funding is an organizational factor and does not define how care is conceived or delivered to support a patient’s comprehensive well-being.

In practice, a holistic nurse would consider how pain, mobility, nutrition, emotional state, social support, and spiritual or cultural needs all interact to affect a patient’s overall well-being, guiding interventions that support the person as a whole.