A Tentative Model to Facilitate Intensive Care Professional Nurses’ Holistic Care in Private Hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa

Introduction: Holistic caring considers not only the physical aspects of a human being but also the interconnections among each individual's body, mind, and spirit. Holistic nursing focuses on the principles of holism: wellness and the interrelationship between human beings and their environment. Physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social well-being are essential to promote nurses’ ability to provide holistic care for patients. Purpose of study: The purpose of this research study was to develop, describe, evaluate, and provide guidelines for the operationalisation of a model to facilitate holistic self-care for professional nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic. Design of study: A theory-generating, qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used. Methods: The researcher developed a model to facilitate intensive care professional nurses’ holistic care consisting of three phases, namely the relationship phase, the working phase and the termination phase. The model was evaluated and validated by five experts from five different universities in South Africa, using Chinn, Kramer's and Sitzmann framework. As an initial model grounded in qualitative insights, it requires further empirical testing, which will be pursued as part of postdoctoral research. Findings: It is anticipated that this study will enhance the sense of interconnectedness with oneself, others, and the environment at the physical, mental, emotional, and social levels. Conclusions: Nursing managers can facilitate nurses’ holistic self-care by providing resources and support, using this model as a frame of reference.