title: Examination of the Use of Healing Touch by Registered Nurses in the Acute Care Setting.
abstract: Acute care nursing is currently undergoing unprecedented change, with health systems becoming more open to nonpharmacological approaches to patient care. Healing Touch (HT) may be a valuable intervention for acute care patients. Research has shown that HT helps both the patient and the caregiver; however, no study to date has examined the impact that the education of nurses in and their use of HT have on daily care delivery in the acute care setting. The purpose of the current qualitative study was to examine the use of HT by registered nurses in the acute care setting during their delivery of patient care, as well as the impact of education in and use of HT on the nurses themselves. Five themes were identified: (1) use of HT techniques, processes, and sequence; (2) outcomes related to HT; (3) integration of HT into acute care nursing practice; (4) perceptions of HT, from skepticism to openness; and (5) transformation through HT. Education in HT and delivery of this modality by nurses in the acute care setting provide nurses with a transformative tool to improve patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia.
authors.forename: Joel G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Inova Health System.
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Friesen
authors.affiliation: Inova Learning Network.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Swengros
authors.affiliation: Inova Learning Network.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.affiliation: Handcrafted Health.
authors.forename: Lucrezia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mangione
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards*; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019124:Therapeutic Touch / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Healing Touch; acute care; healing; nurses