Which of the following is an example of a nursing assistant providing holistic care?

Which of the following is an example of a nursing assistant providing holistic care?

• A. The NA asks the resident to tell her about her hobbies as she helps her perform her daily range of motion exercises.
• B. The NA changes the television channel in the recreation room to her own favorite show.
• C. The NA is completely silent when providing foot care to a resident who speaks a different language.
• D. The NA encourages a talkative resident to be quiet during care.

Answer: (A)

Holistic care means attending to the whole person—physical needs alongside emotional, social, and personal preferences. In this example, the nursing assistant asks the resident to discuss hobbies while helping with daily range-of-motion exercises. That shows attention to the resident’s identity and interests, keeps the resident mentally engaged, and builds a trusting, respectful relationship during care. This approach supports emotional well-being and dignity, not just the medical task at hand. The other scenarios miss important aspects of holistic care: choosing a channel based on the assistant’s own preference prioritizes the caregiver over the resident; remaining silent when the resident speaks a different language ignores communication and cultural needs; and encouraging quiet during care suppresses the resident’s opportunity to express themselves.

Holistic care means attending to the whole person—physical needs alongside emotional, social, and personal preferences. In this example, the nursing assistant asks the resident to discuss hobbies while helping with daily range-of-motion exercises. That shows attention to the resident’s identity and interests, keeps the resident mentally engaged, and builds a trusting, respectful relationship during care. This approach supports emotional well-being and dignity, not just the medical task at hand.

The other scenarios miss important aspects of holistic care: choosing a channel based on the assistant’s own preference prioritizes the caregiver over the resident; remaining silent when the resident speaks a different language ignores communication and cultural needs; and encouraging quiet during care suppresses the resident’s opportunity to express themselves.