A new construct: mindful procedural touch
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Traditionally, touch in health care has been classified as either functional or expressive. Yet, this nomenclature denies the reality that all touch is expressive, and touch that is purely functional may express objectification. The dilemma lies in expressing care while respecting patient boundaries, especially during intimate touch. Mindfulness offers a solution to this dilemma. Mindful touch—being present to the sensations of touch while connecting to an intention of care—allows the health care professional to convey care during functional touch while enjoying the benefits of person to person connection.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal. Creative Comons 4.0 CC-BY
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).