Home as place for healing

Area of Science:

• Nursing Theory
• Environmental Health
• Healing Studies

Background:

• The concept of environment is central to nursing but lacks theoretical and empirical exploration, particularly concerning healing.
• Healing, as a nursing concept, requires deeper investigation into its relationship with the patient's environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the meaning of healing in relation to environment as a place.
• To examine the role of home as a healing environment.
• To consider implications for the study of home and future nursing research.

Main Methods:

• This article presents a theoretical exploration of environment and healing.
• It analyzes healing through the lenses of suffering, active engagement, and personal/spiritual dimensions.
• Home is critically examined as a potential healing space.

Main Results:

• Healing is understood as grounded in suffering, requiring active patient and nurse presence.
• Healing is characterized as a private, spiritual, and profound experience.
• The concept of home as a healing place is explored, alongside situations where home is not conducive to healing.

Conclusions:

• The environment, particularly as a place like home, significantly influences the healing process.
• Further theoretical and empirical research is needed to understand the complex relationship between environment, home, and nursing.
• Future research should address the multifaceted nature of healing within diverse environmental contexts.