Should I try and become a Nurse in a Naturopathic Clinic or a Naturopathic Doctor?

Specialties Holistic Nursing Q/A

I am a 21 year old female and have been taking my prerequisites for Nursing. I felt very passionate about my choice, I do really enjoy caring for people and helping people. However, as I got further into my studies, talked to various RNs, and had researched the career for awhile, I realized how horrible our health care system really is in the U.S. I think that we rely too heavily on drugs and intoxicants, therefore I don't want to have to inject people with a bunch of drugs, like nurses have to do sometimes.

My mother in law who is an RN told me that at her hospital 14 patients died in one month due to medical errors(being given the wrong drugs).Then she told me that they actually had someone who's job it was to "erase" the medical error so that it doesn't make the hospital look bad and they never told the patients family. I was horrified. I don't want any part of that.

I believe that an organic diet, exercise, herbal TEAS, meditation, acupuncture, acupressure, Craniospinal therapy, etc. are the best ways of treating and preventing illness. So I have decided that I either want to be a Nurse(and later Nurse Practitioner) who works in a Naturopathic Clinic, or become a doctor who uses natural and alternative . My question is, to become a Naturopathic doctor do you HAVE to go to a special Naturopathic medical school or could you go to medical school and then just start your own Naturopathic practice?

Also, which option sounds best? I know that I would have to have a Bachelor's degree before I could go to med school anyway, so should I just continue on with Nursing and try to get into a Naturopathic Clinic?

Thanks

?

I am a 21 year old female and have been taking my prerequisites for Nursing. I felt very passionate about my choice, I do really enjoy caring for people and helping people. However, as I got further into my studies, talked to various RNs, and had researched the career for awhile, I realized how horrible our health care system really is in the U.S. I think that we rely too heavily on drugs and intoxicants, therefore I don't want to have to inject people with a bunch of drugs, like nurses have to do sometimes.

My mother in law who is an RN told me that at her hospital 14 patients died in one month due to medical errors(being given the wrong drugs).Then she told me that they actually had someone who's job it was to "erase" the medical error so that it doesn't make the hospital look bad and they never told the patients family. I was horrified. I don't want any part of that.

I believe that an organic diet, exercise, herbal teas, meditation, acupuncture, acupressure, Craniospinal therapy, etc. are the best ways of treating and preventing illness. So I have decided that I either want to be a Nurse(and later Nurse Practitioner) who works in a Naturopathic Clinic, or become a doctor who uses natural and alternative . My question is, to become a Naturopathic doctor do you HAVE to go to a special Naturopathic medical school or could you go to medical school and then just start your own Naturopathic practice?

Also, which option sounds best? I know that I would have to have a Bachelor's degree before I could go to med school anyway, so should I just continue on with Nursing and try to get into a Naturopathic Clinic?

Thanks

:)

Hi NenaRK,

I realize this is an old post and not sure what you decided to do. I just wanted to share with you what I found recently. You can check it out and see if its something you would consider. There's a school in Maryland called International Institute of Original Medicine that uses natural approach to healing. Also, have you seen Dr. Greger's website: nutritionalfacts.org? He went to medical school but doesn't believe in medicines. He has research to back up why eating more fruits and veggies can cure diseases. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Have a blessed day!

Hi NenaRK,

I realize this is an old post and not sure what you decided to do. I just wanted to share with you what I found recently. You can check it out and see if its something you would consider. There's a school in Maryland called International Institute of Original Medicine that uses natural approach to healing. Also, have you seen Dr. Greger's website: nutritionalfacts.org? He went to medical school but doesn't believe in medicines. He has research to back up why eating more fruits and veggies can cure diseases. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Have a blessed day!

Then he's an idiot. It's one thing to say he doesn't have confidence in certain medicines. But, just blanket condemnation of "medicines"? That makes zero sense if you have explained his POV accurately.

Specializes in Tele, Medsurg, Stepdown.

This thread was a trip. And Dinah77 is my hero,

Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.
This thread was a trip. And Dinah77 is my hero,

Aww thanks

May I suggest you read the nurse practice act in the state where you intend to practice. Moral bankruptcy is a hard thing to live with, so it will take a lot of research to avoid that conundrum. At the same time one must also make a living, but I'm not suggesting that you sell out. Who can you take an orders from, according to your practice act?

An NP is going to have a lot of medications to give along the way until he or she is finished with school. Even once you finish school you will still have to follow the scope and standards of practice, which inform your state practice act. There is a time and a place for everything educated choices are required at all levels of practice. You cannot just chose what you want and leave the rest behind. If you are a naturopath then you are going to have a scope of practice and will need to know when to refer out.

NDs can only practice in 17 states. They go to ND schools, need strong backgrounds in biology and chemistry just like MDs/DO do. Have you considered Acupressure and Doctor of Oriental Medicine? Again these practitioners may only be able to practice in specific states.

I rather think you MIL was having fun with you. Think about it, would a hospital be in business with that kind of record? How would she know something like that?

Specializes in Med/Surg, post surgical.

Perhaps they knew someone who was harmed by a statin? A statin brought about the decline of my uncle manifested by severe muscle weakness. He continued on his doctor ordered meds as they were very compliant. I was not a nurse back then. In the last few years I have seen half a dozen hospital patients admitted for severe weakness with the statin thought to be the cause. So the statin gets the number down, but are they any healthier?

I stumbled on this thread and have to put my .02 in.

colloidal silver spray will turn you into a smurf, I literally had a stemi patient that was blue. Family member was a quack and a nurse. She tried to say he had mercury poisoning many years ago, while assessing the patient he revealed to me he took colloidal silver. I had him again a few days later, doctor prescribed a beta blocker and a statin, they refused the statin and acted upset that he was prescribed a statin.

I explained to her that it is a core measure to prescribe a statin.

Everyone should at least know what core measures are: Page not found | Northwestern Medical Center

I don't have a problem with anything backed by some science. Preventative medicine in the US is horrible and many are overmedicated. The whole country needs to seriously improve diet, eat real food, sleep more, work less. However, you cannot reverse serious disease processes with just healthy food/herbs. Medicine and surgeries are needed. Diet/exercise/herbs are great preventative care.

You can load up a cancer patient on all the organic kale you want, just follow the core measures. Someone on this thread mentioned Stanislaw Burzynski as a miracle cancer doc. Ummm, have you even googled his name? I saw his documentary, read about him from numerous sources, the testimonials in the documentary are BS.

Hi. this is a post of 2011, but im so happy I found it. I never thought there was somebody else out there that would see this in the same way that I do. I graduated for nursing 3 years ago, near to taking my boards, and I have been in between switching to holistic nurse or become a holistic doctor. the first one has an easier path, 1 year of experience as an RN and a course and you switch, the second one, takes more time and money. Did you already decide what to do? would you like to share your experience please, Im very curious and I could use some good advice. I have been scared all the time because like I said, I thought I was the only one seeing it that way. I wanted to private message you , but I cant because I havent been a very active member plus never thought I would have found this post on allnurses, found it while searching on google. thanks in advance

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying by becoming a holistic nurse or doctor. The two are very different. You are a nurse already, but apparently you did not go to a nursing school that is endorsed by AHNCC, is that correct? IF that is the case and you want to be a holistic nurse all you have to do is find a program that you want to attend. It is not a professional school it is a school that gives contact that apply to holistic nursing education. You keep working and after you have at least 2 years as a nurse you can sit for the boards at whatever level your education is. I have a master's degree so I sat for the graduate prepare level of certification.

If you want to be a doctor, then you need to go to med school. There seems to be no real educational program in holism for MD they just structure their practice the way they want it to be. However, after you become an MD or a DO you can also take the education path to become a functional medicine doc. It also is not a university program. It is a CE program and outrageously expensive. I've been wanting to do that as a nurse but the price point is prohibitive. But again I will caution you that the two paths one as a nurse and one as a physician are very different. There are other options in nursing but you need to get some realy sense of what you want to do other wise you are going to be going in circles and extremely unhappy and potentially spend many thousands of dollars and still not be happy.

It is clear you have been misinformed about the nursing path there is no switching you either become a nurse or you don't. Even in the endorsed schools the education is on the same path...no need to switch. Electived are different that's it. As an MD no you do not already choose your specialty that come much further down the road.

All anyone needs to do is go to AHNCC.org to find the endorsed holisitc nursing programs from BSN uip

In nursing school one is fully indoctrinated to the FDA big pharma mumbo jumbo. NIH is not the end all be all for research. Your school should have an electronic data base. I consistantly do research of essential oils and herbs to name just a few. I also research other integrative practice--which by the way is a more accurate term. Holistic nursing is based on theory and philosophy and how we are in the world and not about what we DO in the world.

Holistic nurses are holistic with out any education on modalities. However we may take educaitons in specific modalities if we choose to do that. The issue is being able to practice. If the hospital doesn't have a program of integrative care than you will need to be the leader in getting that through the chain of command. It takes a lot of leadership skills and years of work. Every time administration changes you will start over.

Every thing has to be evidence based in formal care. However you can experiment with your own being and I do that regularly and I hope everyone does that. We do that when we choose the nutritional path that we eat or at least I hope we do otherwise we may not be eating what works well four our own bodies.

No magic pill or treatment methodology.

Specializes in Hospice,LTC,Pacu,Regulatory,Operating room.

I am an RN and I went on to complete my doctorate in naturopathic medicine 4 years ago. Now there are quite a few of my colleagues that are RN's and naturopathic physicians. We arent licensed in all 50 states. So keeping my RN licenses helps if I need to work in states i'm not licensed as a naturopath. I will say I make more money as an RN. In California working for other companies I made a rounds 70k but as a nurse ive made 100k it just depends how you want to function and why your going into naturopathic medicine or holistic nursing

Hello :)

I am SO glad to hear your thoughts and feelings about the American healthcare system and your passion to help people in a holistic and ideal way!! I feel the same way about the healthcare system and am disturbed (to say the least) about the approaches we sometimes take to help people in the clinical setting. I have had different medical issues over the years and have personally experienced not being able to rely on our healthcare system in order to heal my mind and body. I also want to be a holistic nurse practitioner someday but I am not sure where I will get my higher degree. Currently I am in a BSN program in California. Take care my friend and keep following your heart!!! We need more people like you!! :)

Holly

I know this is an old comment but I was wondering where you ended up going to school for naturopathic nursing?

+ Add a Comment