Holistic health promotion in the occupational health setting

Abstract

Hostilic health care emphasizes interdependent systems and their relationship to the whole. The feedback process promotes adaptation and coping to maintain homeostatis. No part of the individual can be assessed in isolation from the whole. The whole is indeed, more than the sum of its parts. Holistic health care focuses on increasing the knowledge of health practices and behaviors in order to support self-directed health care. Nursing practice is, therefore, directed toward providing the individual with the knowledge and skills which allow him to make choices about his life style and related risks to health. The workplace provides an ideal setting for the development and implementation of holistic programs. Clients are comparatively well; belong to an active, receptive age group; and comprise a continuous population. The nurse knowledgeable of holistic health care will have a dramatic effect upon the lives of many individuals and families when his or her skills are applied to specific needs of clients. Establishment of Pre-Retirement Program is essential in all workplaces or for all employees (small business-joint seminars). Involvement of the occupational health nurse is strongly recommended, and The occupational health nurse's roles include: data collector and analyst; planner and evaluator of programs; policy maker; client advocate; advisor to management; counselor/educator to worker; change agent.