Holistic Nursing Assessment

Holistic nursing care emphasizes

the whole person,
acknowledging the interconnection
of mind, body, spirit,
and emotion. The purpose of a
holistic nursing
assessment is to recognize the
individual as a whole
entity and not just a collection of
symptoms.
1. General Status and Vital Signs:
Appearance: Observe the patient's
posture, hygiene,
grooming, and age-appropriateness
of clothing. This
gives an insight into self-care and
self-concept.
Vital Signs: Measure temperature,
pulse, respiration,
and blood pressure. Monitor for
abnormalities and
changes over time.
General Behavior: Observe for
restlessness, agitation, or
lethargy, which can indicate pain
or discomfort.
2. Mental Status:
Children and Adolescent:
Orientation: Determine awareness
of person, place, and
time.
Attention and Concentration:
Assess their ability to
focus on tasks and complete them.
Thought Processes: Observe for
clarity, organization,
and the presence of hallucinations
or delusions.
Mood and Affect: Inquire about
feelings and observe
congruence between stated mood
and expressed affect.
Adults:
Cognition: Assess memory (short-
term and long-term),
recall ability, and problem-solving
skills.
Perception: Identify any
hallucinations or false beliefs.
Insight: Determine understanding
of their own mental
state and the consequences of their
actions.
3. Psychosocial, Cognitive, and
Moral Development:
Psychosocial Development:
Evaluate interpersonal
relationships, the patient's role
within the family and
community, and their ability to
handle stress.
Cognitive Development:
Determine thinking processes,
decision-making abilities, and
problem-solving skills.
Look at the stages of development
and if they align with
the patient's age.
Moral Development: Identify the
patient's
understanding of right and wrong,
and how they make
ethical decisions.
4. Pain:
Assessment: Use a pain scale
suitable for the patient's
age and cognitive level. Ask about
location, quality,
intensity, duration, and factors that
alleviate or
exacerbate the pain.
Emotional Response: Evaluate the
emotional and
psychological impact of pain on
the patient's daily life.
5. Violence:
History of Violence: Ask about
any personal experiences
with violence or abuse (emotional,
physical, sexual).
Ensure privacy and safety when
asking these questions.
Signs of Violence: Look for
unexplained bruises, signs of
fear or avoidance behaviors, and
mental health issues
like depression or anxiety that
could be related to past
or present trauma.
6. Culture and Ethnicity:
Cultural Identity: Understand the
patient's cultural
background and its influence on
their beliefs, practices,
and values.
Health Beliefs: Some cultures have
unique beliefs about
health, illness, and treatments.
Understand and respect
these perspectives.
Language: Ensure there's a clear
line of communication.
If language barriers exist, consider
using interpreters.
7. Spirituality and Religious
Practices:
Belief Systems: Ask about
religious affiliations, spiritual
beliefs, and practices. Respect and
understand how
these may influence care
preferences.
Spiritual Needs: Understand if they
have specific needs
or rituals that need to be
accommodated during care.
8. Nutritional Status: