Anthroposophic Nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand: How Do Anthroposophically Educated Registered Nurses Use the Anthroposophic Paradigm to Inform Their Practice? An Interpretative Descriptive Approach

Abstract

This study explores the way registered nurses who have completed further education in anthroposophic nursing apply this knowledge to patient care in Aotearoa New Zealand. Anthroposophic medicine and healthcare are based on anthroposophy, a spiritual philosophy of human existence first articulated by the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner at the start of the 20th century. Healthcare extended with anthroposophic foundations focuses on a holistic, multidisciplinary and person-centred approach which considers the person’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. In Europe, anthroposophic healthcare and medicine are integrative health practices offered in hospital and community settings renowned for holistically supporting and benefiting patients with various health conditions.

A qualitative research design (interpretative description [ID]) was used to investigate the research question and aims. Eleven (11) semistructured interviews were conducted to gain insight into how registered nurses inform their practice with anthroposophic concepts and foundations. Eligible participants had completed an internationally accredited education pathway to anthroposophic nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand and held a current annual practising certificate (APC). Six (6) of the 11 participants had completed the requirements to become anthroposophic nurse specialists (ANS).

I analysed the data using the four steps of Morse’s (1994) cognitive processing framework. Three key themes were identified: “Our way of being,” expressions of anthroposophic nursing practice, and negotiating place: nursing with anthroposophic foundations in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding and awareness of anthroposophic nursing as a person-centred, holistic approach to care. With its emphasis on spiritually integrated caring interventions, participants articulated the anthroposophic paradigm as embodied knowledge that informed practice, nurtured patient/nurse relationships, and underpinned holistic person-centred nursing care. Anthroposophic concepts motivated inner development as part of the nurses’ self-reflection and spiritual growth and fostered embodied knowledge.

This study provides new insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by registered anthroposophic nurses working in healthcare structures unfamiliar with the foundations of this integrative approach. The findings will facilitate improved understanding of the relevance of practice guided by anthroposophic foundations and concepts related to the bicultural health context in Aotearoa New Zealand, and contribute to evolving recommendations for providing person-centred and holistic care which is inclusive of spirituality. These results augment the current literature, expanding knowledge of the ontological and epistemological significance of anthroposophic nursing as a caring culture in nonanthroposophic healthcare settings. Future empirical research to strengthen the development of anthroposophic nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand, should include investigating and validating the utilisation of the 12 Nursing Gestures model in various clinical settings.