The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: The Ethic and Ethos of Holistic Nursing

Abstract

Holistic nursing is founded on the values of integrality and the awareness of whole-people and whole-system interconnectedness. These concepts are foundational to the broader global health agendas and initiatives of our time, which seek to improve human, animal, and planetary health. The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents the most remarkable transnational initiative in history: a 15-year plan (2015-2030) rallying the efforts of all countries, governments, and concerned citizens worldwide to foster human–planet thriving and survival. The purpose herein is to substantiate the United Nations 2030 Agenda as a holistic nursing priority and theory-practice opportunity for current and future professional maturation. This article provides a background of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a discussion regarding their relevance to holistic nursing, and an explanation of the essential nature of partnerships in attaining each of these “Global Goals.” We link the discussion of the SDGs directly to the American Holistic Nurses Association’s Core Values and identify implications for practice, education, research, and policy. Holistic nursing is ideally situated throughout the health care system and in the broader global context to advocate and advance the SDGs.

European Nursing Council Code for European nursing and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

“…22 This vision as well as SDG3 -which is focused on health and well-being for everybody and at all stages of life 22 -can be connected to for the European Nursing Council Code. 2 It is recognised that health is the collective theme that connects the entire UN Sustainable Development Goals 35 (also see Rosa et al 36,37 ). Although SDG3 is clearly connected to the issue of health, it is not the only goal that can have an influence on health; hence, they are interconnected.…”

“…People's health can be impacted by SDG1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 on social determinants, SDG8 on economic development, and by SDG11 on making communities safe. 37 In addition, there are other common values that can be observed between the UN 2030 Agenda and the European Nursing Council Code such as human rights and the dignity of the person, 2,22 equality, 2,22 no discrimination, respecting race and ethnicity, 2,22 and addressing the needs of those who are vulnerable. 2,22 Professional nursing values enshrined in the European Nursing Council Code include person centred, accessible, high quality compassionate care.…”

“…It has already been contended that the tradition of nursing theory and practice -that was spearheaded by Nightingale -can be perceived in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 37 Nightingale is considered to be a forerunner of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and her 'legacy' is considered to live on in these Goals. 37 What is particularly striking and progressive about Nightingale's thinking on nursing care is that she envisaged it to be more than providing care for those who were sick.…”

“…37 Nightingale is considered to be a forerunner of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and her 'legacy' is considered to live on in these Goals. 37 What is particularly striking and progressive about Nightingale's thinking on nursing care is that she envisaged it to be more than providing care for those who were sick. 37 What is evident in her work is that she was also acutely aware of how a person's surrounding environment, to which they were inextricably linked, contributed to their well-being.…”

“…37 What is particularly striking and progressive about Nightingale's thinking on nursing care is that she envisaged it to be more than providing care for those who were sick. 37 What is evident in her work is that she was also acutely aware of how a person's surrounding environment, to which they were inextricably linked, contributed to their well-being. 43 Nightingale was also persuaded that there was a correlation between the ill health of those living in poverty and particular social policies.…”