Holistic Nursing Research 

Why is Holistic Research Important?

Medical technology continues to make extraordinary strides in extending human life. All nurses recognize that healing – often defined as finding and recognizing a sense of wholeness – can occur even in the face of illness, injury, and death. And research gives us valuable answers as to how healing can best occur.

Within a philosophy of holism and healing, nurses value such elusive concepts as care, presence, intuition, comfort, intention and intentionality, love, and compassion. Spiritual recovery and quality of life are also important issues. These concepts all need refinement and continued clarification in how we use them in practice as well as in our research. 

AHNA Research

Current Activities:

1. The AHNA comprehensive survey report combines data collected during 2005, 2006, and 2007. Dr. Carol Baldwin presented data from 2005 surveys at the 2006 conference that she and colleagues at Arizona State University compiled and analyzed. At the 2007 conference, additional data was collected regarding our members’ interests in terms of research and what they have worked on, published, or had grants for in the past. This data may help members find resources as well as mentors and consultants. Conference Planning
2.  — a research committee member participates in planning each conference.
3. Advancing Scholarship — research committee members review the guidelines for critiquing grant proposals, and help members with grant proposals.
4. AHNA Annual Research Award — every year AHNA awards a Research Grant to AHNA members who are conducting research on topics related to holistic nursing and have been members of AHNA for at least one year. For more information contact Rorry Zahourek.
5. Consultation/Mentorship Program - at the 2008 conference members participated in One-on-One consultations with researchers. The research committee is working to continue these consultations at future conferences and add a mentorship program. For more information contact Ruth McCaffrey.
6. Develop a research discussion forum for AHNA members.

Future Activities:

1. Develop a multi-site research project — the research committee is working to form a network of research projects and researchers across the country with a similar theme or goal.  This would hopefully include clinical institutions, educational facilities, etc.  Each group would be studying an aspect related to the overarching concept we chose -i.e. What is Holistic Nursing Healing?  For more information contact Rorry Zahourek.
2. Develop sources of information for members, including: 
   1. Research being done by members
   2. Potential tools (scales, surveys, approaches) that might be especially helpful in holistic nursing (HN) research
   3. Grant sources for holistic nurses
   4. Graduate programs that are holistic nursing friendly as well as those that specialize in HN
   5. Schools where AHNA members are faculty members

Research Committee

The AHNA Research Committee provides support and mentorship members regarding research endeavors; reviews research grant applications; solicits and reviews research abstracts for conference; and much more. E-mail the Research Committee.

Guidelines for Qualitative & Quantitative Research

AHNA has developed written guidelines as an aid to all AHNA members, whether you are writing a proposal for AHNA, for a School or College of Nursing, or for a foundation or other funding source. View Guidelines.

Policy on AHNA Member Utilization for Research Purposes

AHNA is an association comprised of skilled nurses with various educational and experiential backgrounds. Thus AHNA offers a rich source of data for individuals who wish to learn more about this group of nurses. Additionally, the annual AHNA conference brings a large group of holistic nurses from diverse practice settings together.  THe AHNA Research Committee has a developed a policy on how such research may be conducted. View policy.