Nursing's Holistic Approach

Nursing is holistic ~ it is about caring for the whole person in the context of their total environment.

Nurse Sharon (pictured here) is the Director of Wellness at N Street Village. She cares for the women who come to the wellness center. Many of them with serious chronic health problems such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cancer, and chronic mental illnessnes such as depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder.

Barbara (pictured at the left) works at the N Street Village in a managerial role and she lives in the shelter. Prior to N Street, Barbara was living independently at home. Then her chronic illness (diabetes) resulted in a hospitalization and she lost her employment. She lost her child to foster care and her world fell apart. Once she was able to gain shelter at N Street, care for her health through the intervention of Sharon and her team, she began to re-establish her self and resume self-care and put the pieces of her self-esteem together again. "I am very grateful for N Street" she told us in a quiet, gentle voice.

By my lights, Barbara's a success story because she had the drive and determination to regain wellness, and because there is a haven like N Street (and nurses like Sharon) to provide care and shelter. Both Barbara and Sharon are extraordinary and inspirational persons, and I won't forget them.