An integrative model for holistic community health nursing

Health and nursing are shifting from acute care to community settings, causing confusion for clients and professionals. Although the holistic nursing perspective has improved care to human beings in interaction with their environment and has moved nursing away from pathology-focused care, the community as the focus of care has not been addressed. This article presents an integrated model of community health that expands holistic nursing to the community as client. The model clarifies nursing care for the individual, family, aggregate, and community. One can focus on any one level, with the awareness that each is part of a unified whole. Holistic community nursing completes the circle of care by moving beyond the particular part to focus on the greatest health for the community. The intent is to help nurses describe their unique areas of expertise within the complex community system and to establish a basis for collaboration and partnership.