Suggestions on RN starting up as a Holistic Nurse, - page 3

Steeleworks, you are an inspiration.

I've commented on this subject in another thread somewhere in this specialty section. Just to add to the conversation here, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a licensed massage therapist since 1993, an RN since 2011. My holistic health practice has been in effect since my initial licensure, and now I'm incorporating my nursing training to provide an expanded scope of practice.

I could not agree more with Steeleworks' opinion that nursing is far from a holistic practice in the mainstream. However, I believe that many nurses have a holistic heart. My encouragement and support goes out to any nurse who is being called into the holistic health circle.

One perspective I would like to offer here is to ask each one to meditate on exactly what do you mean by "holistic"? And in doing so, there is one more question to ask: are you applying to yourself the principles that you wish to teach others?

In other words, are you the first patient or client in your own practice? We have studies to show that as a group, nurses are at the top of th list in terms of ill health. What are we doing about that?

Now in the way of encouragement, I will offer this: to be called into a holistic practice is a gift from the Universe. If you follow that calling, and apply to yourself first, the things that you learn, you will be blessed in ways that you can't really imagine right now.

In doing so, the circle of holistic health will continue to expand, until everyone stands in the circle with hands joined.

Resources for interested seekers, check out the website for:
American Massage Therapy Association (includes online courses, e.g. "when medications contraindicate massage" or something like that)
American Holistic Nurses Association (includes online course links, also has student or recent grad membership rate)
National Association of Nurse Massage Therapists (some online courses, a handbook for nursing documentation)
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure Foundation

A suggested way to get started: source out a "holistic practitioner" of some variety in your local community and book an appointment. Naturopath, chiropractor, reflexologist, acupuncturist, acupressurist, bodyworker, qi kung, iridologist, herbalist, etc. etc. See what the Universe provides for you in the way of inspiration and guidance. In other words, get out of your head and into your bodymind.

Just do it! Start where you are.

Namaste.

Thanks and I not only agree, I am following your advice.

Really, all modalities of health care can be more or less holistic depending on how we practice. For instance, if someone approaches massage therapy as a job to be done, just a pay check, they may not have the passion that makes them look beyond the particular muscle groups they are manipulating and they attain unconscious competence. In other words, they just follow a routine rather than treating the whole person.

To be holistic would require looking at what we are doing consciously with the holistic mindset. Then as a scientist asking, what is working and why and what is not working and on who.

One thing I encourage massage therapists to do is to incorporate the water cure in their massages. Have the patients take 1/8th teaspoon of sea salt first thing in the AM as soon as they get up. Dissolve it in the mouth. Then drink 8 to 10 ounces of water. Then do the same at least 45 minutes before the massage if on an empty stomach and at least a few hours before if they will be eating within the 2 hours before the massage.

The end result of your massage will be even more remarkable as their body will be more hydrated and will easily give up the toxins to the lymphatic system. This takes massage to a whole new level of holistic.

As to self care for RN's, I went from construction work and weighing 198 lbs and able to dead lift over 500 lbs to weighing 300 lbs and barley able to lift myself out of bed after years of being a nurse. So yes, I was the first patient. It took me getting sick and modern medicine not able to help me for me to finally apply holistic health to myself.

Using one simple life change first thing in the AM and last thing at night, I lost the first 40 pounds and have kept it off going on 9 months now. Note that I did not change the way I ate or exercised to accomplish this weight loss.

Actually, I stopped looking at the scale once I hit 300 so do not know how heavy I was. The next 15 pounds came off with the raw food diet and today, I hit 245. I still eat meat and occasionally less healthy food, such as when going out with friends. Otherwise, it is only raw and live foods. I can have all the chocolate I want (or can afford) so long as it is raw. No being deprived, well, except of my excess weight.

Good health to you and all.

Steeleworks, thanks to your prompting in one of these columns, I went back to my old copy of Your Body's Many Cries for Water by Dr. Batman. Over 3 weeks I have healed the edema in my legs and feet. Now noticing edema receding around my eyes and face. Also have dropped 6 pounds. Oh yes, I did stop taking the hydrochlorothiazide too. So I am my first patient in this water cure.

Yes, I totally agree on your comments about massage therapy. Not every massage therapist has a holistic approach. Many massage therapists do the same as nurses -- they give, and give, and give some more without ever giving to themselves first. Not to be too religious, but Master Jesus told us to love one another as you love yourself. What could that possibly mean, if you don't love yourself?

Self care is the prime directive! For me, I find out if the practitioner I'm thinking about engaging with does their own self care. If not, it's just more of the same old, same old, Do as I say, not as I do. Doesn't work for me, either!

Such good results you have achieved on dropping the unneeded poundage! I had a similar experience, after "gestational diabetes" at the age of 40, my weight went up from 160 to 250+. I stopped counting after 252. Made various changes in eating pattern and activity level (an ongoing art and science) and have dropped down below 200. Now I am experimenting with the water cure and adding minerals. Also looking at acid/alkaline diet. I think I will contine to see poundage transformed into energy for current projects.

Oh yes, I will be teaching these things as I go.

I am intrigued by your specific suggestions as to the use of salt, something that Dr. Batman (and other authors) are vague about.

Namaste

Hello...just stumbled onto your response and wanted to comment, and inquire.
Namaste to you, too. I am an experienced R.N., have worked in many areas of nursing, but got laid off from my last FT, benefitted position 2 years ago and have not been able to find a new FT benefitted position since despite spending MANY hours daily in my search. I have been working as a home health/home infusion nurse for the last 2 years, but a per diem position that has no benefits and the work fluctuates quite a bit. Some weeks I would make more money if I worked as a Walmart Greeter, especially with all of the time it takes to do the paperwork involved and the driving to patients. I am very disillusioned, and although I LOVE being a nurse I no longer get up each day and look forward to my job. I've always been more interested in wellness vs illness, and am personally an avid yoga practitioner and I meditate daily. I have spent the last few months trying to figure out what I can do to:
1. Make enough money to be more comfortable (right now if my car broke down I'd be hard pressed to be able to afford to fix it) and 2. Get up each day loving what I do for a living and excited to get busy taking care of people...After a long thought process I have decided to go to Massage Therapy school...not to REPLACE my R.N. (as many people are assuming and bringing up to me) but to have something I can ADD to my arsenal of ways to help heal. Yes, as many people have mentioned on this site, a nurse can give a "backrub" as part of his/her scope of practice...but massage therapy involves much more than that, and training to become an R.N. definitely doesn't qualify anyone to give a therapeutic massage! I am on my way today to enroll in a 300 hr MT program (to start...that's all I can afford right now), and I look forward to being able to help heal many people's stressful existences by providing massage, AND to be able to work for myself and earn a better income (it will take some great marketing and hustling to get the business I will need, but that is do-able)...I am very interested in starting a mobile chair massage business (but will also do full body massages when needed)...I am most looking forward to getting up each day LOVING what I do for a living!!!!!
Any thoughts, comments, or help you can offer????? thank you...Namaste...Debbie

Hey Smilingrn1,

It may be too late but if not, consider Bowen Works. It is incredible. In learning how to do it (neuro-somatic manipulation, sort of an independent sub specialty of therapeutic massage and deep tissue massage), I was able to put an end to my carpel tunnel pain. This is so gone that I have been able to paint (in pointillism) and even can hammer my metal sculptures pain free.

Bowen has a place in chiropractors offices and may be cheaper to get started and actually start earning an income.