title: Journey to holism.
abstract: The journey to holism is the result of a grounded theory study of 18 members of the American Holistic Nurses' Association. Participants were prompted to "Tell me about holistic nursing" and replies revealed a seven-step process to becoming a holistic nurse. The process is an expansion of Van Gennep's three-stage theory of rites of passage, which involves separation, marginality/liminality, and reintegration. The expanded process begins with separation from mainstream nursing and concludes with reintegration into nursing as a holistic nurse. The marginality/liminality step shows five active steps: gathering information to quell the distress of the separation, applying that information to others, changing focus to self-care, applying the information to self, and increasing self-knowledge. This article describes the process and presents data to support the conclusion that the growth of a holistic nurse follows a recognizable course.
authors.affiliation: Austin Peay State University, USA.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Krau
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Eckert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018939:Holistic Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011361:Professional Competence; D012649:Self Concept; D012951:Socialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires