LINKING THE PARTS - AN EXEMPLAR OF PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRACTICAL ISSUESIN HOLISTIC NURSING

This paper offers an analysis of some of the challenges of holism, par ticularly the challenges relating to co-operation and role indetermina cy. It uses the work of one group of nurses (specialist paediatric onc ology nurses) to exemplify these issues, and it draws upon some empiri cal research into their work. These nurses work to provide a link betw een hospital and home for families with children with cancer, but it i s suggested that the fundamental issues they face, (a) in linking the parts of the system, and (b) in linking the parts of care as it is exp erienced, are shared by anyone who subscribes to holistic nursing. Iss ue (a) raises questions of professional boundary crossing, and calls u pon diplomatic and micro-political skills. Issue (b) raises questions about the boundaries of health care, and calls upon skills of 'transla tion' and emotional labour. The value of holism is not questioned but the paper illustrates how aiming for holistic care inevitably opens up philosophical and practical problems and concerns.