Position Statement on the Use of Complementary
Therapies in the Practice of Nursing
The New York State Nurses Association has examined the use of
complementary therapies as nursing interventions in nursing practice.
Complementary therapy refers to those types of interventions that can
be used alone or in conjunction with conventional therapy.
Overview:
The nursing profession has a long history of viewing and caring for
individuals in a holistic manner. Nurses recognize cultural,
psychosocial and spiritual needs that can impact upon health care
practices, choices in health care and preferences for treatment or
non-intervention. Nurses have an ethical and professional
responsibility to support an individual's choice regarding health care
and educate the patient/client about fraudulent or potentially harmful
choices.
It is essential in any health care situation that both the
patient/client and the health care practitioner understand and
appreciate the difference between curing and healing. Curing involves
specific action to eliminate or modify a condition and may lead to
healing. Healing involves the patient/client's participation in a
transformational process. Professional nurses are increasingly
offering patients/clients the choice of a variety of therapies as part
of a comprehensive plan of care. Patients/clients are seeking out
practitioners who are willing to participate in a more eclectic
treatment plan combining conventional and complementary therapies.
In 1992, the National Institute of Health established an Office of
Alternative Medicine with a dual focus: to develop research centers
focusing on clinical conditions such as aging, cancer and pain and to
conduct research focused on single evaluations of specific
complementary therapies. In addition, the Office of Alternative
Medicine is charged with establishing a clearinghouse to supply
information for the public and health care practitioners on
complementary therapies.
Complementary therapies are becoming more valued due to the
incorporation of the needs of the individual's psychosocial, physical
and spiritual beliefs, as well as offering less invasive treatment.
Many types of complementary therapies have been studied and the
effectiveness of some of the therapies has been supported. Some
examples include:
meditation and guided imagery to decrease anxiety
massage therapy to lower blood pressure
music therapy to increase peripheral blood flow and decrease cardiac
complications
acupuncture and acupressure to improve osteoarthritis
spiritual support and prayer to improve the immune system
Other therapies currently are considered more experimental within
the conventional health care system. More evidence-based research of
many complementary therapies is needed.
Additional examples of complementary therapies include:
aromatherapy
biofeedback
bioelectromagnetics (BEM) application
contact reflex analysis
crystal therapy
guided imagery
healing touch
herbs
homeopathic medicines
humor and laughter
hypnosis
magnetic therapy
reflexology
Reiki
therapeutic touch
yoga
Position:
Nurses can, and often do, use holistic nursing therapies that can
be described as complementary in nature. Complementary therapies are
appropriate nursing interventions in nursing practice and are not
meant to replace conventional nursing or medical therapies. When
complementary therapies are offered, there needs to be full
disclosure, including the pros and cons, of all the appropriate
therapeutic options available to the patient/client. Nurses can
facilitate the integration of complementary and conventional therapies
into the patient/client's health care plan.
Recommendations:
The New York State Nurses Association believes that professional
nurses using complementary therapies in nursing practice should:
Have the appropriate education, clinical experience and supervision
in order to maintain competency.
Discuss with the patients/clients available options regarding
complementary and conventional therapies and support the
patient/client's choice.
Be familiar with any practice acts in the state that already
address similar practices such as chiropractic, acupuncture and
massage. In the practice of nursing, professional nurses should not
violate any provisions in other professions' practice acts.
Incorporate the Holistic Nurses Association's Standards of
Holistic Nursing Practice and the American Nurses Association's Code
of Ethics for Nurses into their practice.
Conduct, support and participate in research to study the
effectiveness of complementary therapies as nursing interventions.
Support continued funding of the federal Office of Alternative
Medicine and urge professional nursing organizations to work
collaboratively with that office.
Advocate that health care practitioners, health care facilities,
and insurance plans provide the patient/client with the opportunity to
obtain conventional and complementary therapies by accepting and
integrating the availability of such therapies into the health care
delivery system.
This position statement was developed for the association under the
leadership of the Council on Nursing Practice.
7/99
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