Community Health Nursing Practice Exam

The nurse implementing a plan that combines aromatherapy and acupuncture is applying the principle of integrated health care. This approach involves the incorporation of various complementary and alternative therapies alongside conventional medical treatments to provide a more comprehensive care plan. Integrated health care focuses on understanding the whole person—physically, emotionally, and socially—and aims to use the most effective methods and practices from diverse health care disciplines.

In this scenario, aromatherapy and acupuncture both belong to alternative therapies that can enhance patient well-being and support recovery. By integrating these practices with traditional nursing care, the nurse recognizes the value of addressing multiple aspects of a patient's health. This integration is designed to promote overall health outcomes and is rooted in the understanding that health care can benefit from a variety of approaches.

In contrast, holistic health care encompasses a broader philosophy that might include but is not limited to integrated health care. Folk medicine care emphasizes traditional remedies within specific cultural contexts, while herbalistic health care narrowly focuses on the use of herbal remedies. Thus, the nurse's approach aligns specifically with the concept of integrated health care, making this the most appropriate principle being applied in the situation.