Healing Therapies in Your Practice, Essay Example

The benefits of alternative methods for helping patients in pain and distress vary from traditional medications to alternative forms including herbs, music and massage. Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) is defined by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine (NCCM, 2002). Some disciplines believe in scientific evidence regarding CAM therapies. However there are others who seek additional information and question the validity of through scientific studies. Questions regarding whether these therapies are safe and if they work for the purposes for which they are used (NCCM, 2002).

I find it interesting that I am beginning this class now. I live in the Midwest region and we have one physician in this area practicing with complementary alternative therapies. This physician does not see patients in the hospital or long-term setting. I work in long-term care and currently assisting a patient in their dying process. This patient is under the care of this particular physician. He is very reluctant to give us comfort care orders, which in our facility would involve the offering of morphine, ativan and other medications for comfort and provide palliative care. Our hospice nurses practice separately from the regular staff. They offer some alternative therapies such as massage and music (harp); however I have never thought to inquire whether they use any other methods. Our hospice service seems to try to offer the best of both CAM’s and traditional medicine.

I have been a nurse for three years. I can honestly say I have never had or heard a conversation concerning CAM. I look forward to learning about these therapies and possibly introducing them to my colleagues here in long-term care. The Naturopathy Digest (2009) reports that CAM increased in the United States an estimated 47% between 1990 and 1997.  Today the trend continues and I anticipate the opportunity to learn more about how they can benefit patients in long-term care.

References

Naturopathy Digest. CAM and Conventional Medicine: Patient Perceptions. 2009. Web. Retrieved March 3, 2010 from http://www.naturopathydigest.com/important_research/general_health/other/05.php

NCCAM. What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)? 2002. Retrieved March 3, 2010 from  http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/