Returning nursing to an ecocentric holistic care model

¶ … returning the nursing community to a more ecocentric model of nursing than the egocentric model that is currently in fashion. The paper introduces the two primary nursing perspectives and their advantages, as well as the disadvantages, of both. The results of the discussion lend strength and credence to the proposal to return to the original ecocentric model of nursing, especially when considering the many and myriad changes that are taking place in today's U.S. health care system. Using the author's case, history and research, the paper documents the many changes that the field of nursing has undergone from its early days, comparing and contrasting the many differences between the ecocentric and egocentric models, including a discussion of the positive relationship between ecocentric nursing and holistic care. The findings of the paper are that returning to the ecocentric model would be greatly beneficial when compared to the egocentric method of nursing.

Ecocentric nursing

The ecocentric approach to nursing is one that aligns quite well with the holistic approach that is quite favorable in many of today's nursing communities. The holistic approach can best be described as making the patient "whole." As one recent study states "therefore holism, healing and health are inter-related concepts in the nursing literature" (McEvoy, Duffy, p. 414). The ecocentric approach walks hand-in-hand with the holistic approach and it can best be defined as an approach that takes into account more than just the patient's parts, injuries, or symptoms; instead it purports that the entire body is of importance not just the afflicted part. Holistic or ecocentric care is often described as providing the patient with spiritual, physical and psychological training. The problem is that many nurses do not feel a high level of comfort when approaching this type of healing or nursing process. Many times they are taught as students to concentrate on a more egocentric approach; the culprit is usually the spiritual part of the treatment according to many experts. An example would be the recent study that states "providing spiritual attention necessitates a closer engagement with the individual and may be perceived in an apprehensive and nervous manner" (Bowell, Cannon, Miller, 2013, p. 329). If what the Bowell et al. states is true, then perhaps returning to the ecocentric method of nursing can begin in the teaching/learning phase of training.