Sacred Spaces, Healing Places

Course overview

Modern nursing was founded on the concepts of healing environments. Florence Nightingale was one of the first to realize the importance of nature, light, noise, and sensory stimulation in healing. Today, it is well known that healing environments empower patients to be involved in their own healing journey and take responsibility for their own health. Through their understanding of the elements of a sacred, healing space and the environment's role in healing, health care providers and consumers can create and support these spiritual spaces so their health is enhanced, their culture and history are respected, and wellness, prevention, and self-care are emphasized. The outcome of this course is for the learner to describe how environmental elements, such as color, nature, light, air quality, temperature, smells, music, noise, furnishings, and wayfinding, contribute to healing for clients and health care providers, and to explain the role of the health care provider in creating a spiritually healing environment.