Creating a Healing Environment

¶ … Healing Hospital Consider how the paradigm of a healing hospital might influence your philosophy of caregiving. Describe the components of a healing hospital and their relationship to spirituality. What are the challenges of creating a healing environment in light of the barriers and complexities of the hospital environment? Include biblical aspects that support the concept of a healing hospital.

According to Eberst (2008), one of the primary components of a healing environment is the environment in which the patient receives care; she states "We have learned that proving a loving and compassionate environment that is aesthetically pleasing promotes healing" (Eberst, 2008). It is not only the aesthetics that are important, rather the environment must be looked at from the patient's perspective to see what types of things may prevent a patient the rest and relaxation that they need during a recovery phase.

For example, one of the best examples of such a consideration would be the noise levels that a patient must endure. Some hospitals simply overlook the importance of noise in a patient's recovery and can actually contribute to sleep deprivation which is totally opposite of promoting the intended health outcomes as well as inconsistent with providing compassionate care. Another component that is necessary in promoting a healing environment is the ability to integrate work design and technology to further support the healing process.

One example given is how design can allow for more patient privacy during stressful periods in their lives. The specific example of design in which a hospital has a separate elevator to move patients to different departments can reduce any anxieties that a patient might experience which may occur from being viewed by others in possibly one of their most vulnerable states.

Important considerations such as this can help someone cope with stress and support the human spirit (Dunn, 2010) In regards to technology, various technological advancements can be fully utilized to improve efficiencies and the response time need to respond to patients needs which is also consistent for maintaining a level of compassion. Finally, another example that includes both design and technology is given in which an entertainment system is installed in each hospital room that can provide a calm and relaxing environment or even give a patient a few laughs (Eberst, 2008).

It is also important to think about addressing the same types of environments that can heal or support a nurse's spirits in design. Dunn (2010) considers how nurses could create healing environments for themselves and their colleagues to refresh their own spirits so that they may be in a better position to provide spiritual healing and more compassionate care by stomping out whatever burnout might occur. The final component that Dunn (2010) offers is to build a culture of "radical loving care" to create a healing environment.

The philosophy is intended to help health care workers return to their roots and remember why they first went into healthcare to begin with, as well as promotes a holistic approach to understanding the patients' needs that goes far beyond just the physical. One specific example of how Mercy Gilbert Hospital has tried to support a.