Contributor: Ellen E. Swanson
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A colleague expressed interest in the application of the mandala to her clinical work setting in a hospital neurology unit. We decided to first identify what would be on a mandala application for the entire nursing department of the hospital. We constructed a mandala with specifics for rings 1 and 4. In the nursing department mandala that follows, Ring 1 lists the hospital resources for the nursing department, and Ring 4 the ways the department manifests in each life aspect of the Feng Shui Ba-Gua system. Rings 2 and 3 specify what is to go in each ring without listing the information. This mandala application is shown next.
Then we tackled the neurology unit mandala application. She felt more certain about the specifics for Rings 2 and 3 on this one, and we were able to put in the details for all the rings. These are shown in the mandala application that follows.
Just to review, the generic definitions of the uses of each ring are as follows.
Ring 1, the Rainbow Ring — seven resources or sources of energy.
Ring 2: Teaching and learning ring — what each resource or source teaches or contributes.
Ring 3: Inner resources ring — resources available from or applied to the body, mind,and spirit either literally or figuratively (ancient cultures included emotions in the mind arena).
Ring 4 and Center: Manifestation ring – based on the Feng Shui Ba-Gua system and its life aspects.
I found it of interest to study the two mandalas side by side. I looked for patterns and big picture information. I looked for holistic nursing theory concepts. I looked for similarities and differences. And I looked at the center.
Several holistic nursing theory concepts I saw were transpersonal connections, mutuality, colleagues as helpful people, self-care for client and staff, trust, respect, and healing.
What do you see as you study them? What insights come to you about your own workplace as you study them?
Holistic nursing concepts source:
Frisch, N. (2013). Nursing theory in holistic nursing practice. In B. Dossey & L. Keegan (Eds.) Holistic nursing a handbook for practice, 6th Ed. (pp. 117-128). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.