Nurses who believe in herbal nonsense, alternative medicine, anti vaccine etc

Nurses Relations

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This is one of the few things that kind of upsets and bothers me so much in the nursing world (well healthcare in general, but since im in nursing it bothers me when i see it with nurses more)

But so frequently there are so many people who recommend this alternative nonense, to seeking real medical attention, and it really just worries me.

Theres the obvious danger of interactions with real medication, but then it also promotes people to either avoid actually treating their problem. Or it takes money away from going to real healthcare, and instead ends up in the pockets of these charlatans.

In nursing school I saw it so incredibly frequently, and even in the hospital I see it somewhat often. Nurses who tell patients that eating grains causes their diabetes, or ranting about GMOs and this crap. Other nurses who are stubborn/ignorant enough to avoid getting vaccinated (flu shots!) for reasons other than legitimate medical reasons (id never expect someone with a history or guillain barre or allergies to force a shot on themselves)

If medical professionals want to do all this nonsense in their personal lives, thats their right. Its just when they bring it into the workplace and involve patients in it that it really worries me.

When its relatively harmless it doesn't bother me (ie some of the out there ideas that people may have for patients to improve their pain without drugs) fine. But when it just spreads ignorance and confuses the patient, its terrible.

Im all over the place here, but just a rant

you can't do Reiki on someone without their consent, and there needs to be an exchange of something of worth between the giver and receiver.

Not at all, I certainly dont think im the standard at all.

I really dont mind people believing whatever they believe (ok it bothers me a little when someone rants to me about how great their non science based idea is). Its really just when it spills into patients.

And not always so blunt and cut and dry like the above example. But sometimes its silly things like people telling patients about their fruitarian diets, or how they should try going vegan.

Just another real example. But like 15 or so people I previously went to nursing school with got ""certified"" in Reiki over the summer. Now I dont work with most of them, but id be really damn worried if I saw nurses on my unit trying to perform Reiki on a patient.

both type one diabetes and celiac are autoimmune diseases, it is not uncommon to see them in the same patient. on the celiac board I frequent, there have been more than one Type I who was later dx as being celiac, and probably had been for some time. If you are going to rant, you need to have more knowledge about what you are ranting about....

Im not talking about telling a patient that theyre wrong. Im talking about nurses who believe in this stuff, and then present it to a patient.

Ive seen nurses tell patients that eating gluten could be contributing to their diabetes (and im not talking in the context that its because theyre eating too many carbohydrates or something). If someone wants to eat gluten free because their yoga instructor told them its the best thing evar fine. But teaching that crap to a patient isnt right.

Specializes in School nursing.

Despite my feelings on the matter (I am supportive of alternative therapies given the evidence-based research I have read), I know as nurse, the most important thing I can teach a patient is to be upfront to their provider about what treatments/medications they are taking. Some do not consider herbals medication and leave out those facts.

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

OP, you'd probably be aghast to find that some herbals are included in mainstream, peer-reviewed common protocols for treatment of certain conditions. Your statements are extremely one-sided.

The same over-zealous logic could be applied to the opposite argument -- I could say, "hey, you can put all the big-pharma chemicals and industrial-ag GMOs in your body that you want to, but don't push it on patients ...".

Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
Herbs supplements, and other 'non-traditionals' have their place in treatments. I'm glad I have a doctor who is respectful of alternatives. Instead of just being prescribed the standard drug company fare for my pinched nerve, I got a prescription for massage therapy. I was given exercises and now have changed my body mechanics and am 100% free of shoulder pain. My TSH was high and I did research, started drinking filtered water, eliminated thyroid suppressing foods, started taking iodine and selenium supplements. TSH went down 1.5 points in a little over a month. My NP is going to recheck in 3 months. She is supportive of my 'non-traditional' approach. I think we all need to be skeptical of standard medicine, drug companies, etc. There is a huge profit motive to keep people coming for more, rather than holistically healing themselves.[/quote']

It can go the other way, though.

I have chronic back pain from sciatica and my physician refuses to acknowledge any other option of treatment but an "anti-inflammatory diet." If I hear the man mention turmeric one more time, I'll find a new doctor. Physicians should respect the right of the patient to refute alternative therapies. And there are some that don't.

Specializes in Emergency.

I just had a long discussion about this with one of the docs I work with.

He has noticed many of his colleagues in family practice who have started offering alternative therapies in conjunction with their care, and he doesn't like it. I was surprised as he is an open minded kind of guy, but his rationale was surprising.

Since they are selling remedies and services such as reiki that are not covered by our provincial insurance he feels that by recommending and then self providing these treatments physicians are being exploitative. More money for the doc (and they are often charging a lot), more out of pocket expense for the patient who may be at the desperate "try anything" point for their symptoms, and after all, the doctor said it would help.

I think that many alternative therapies have their place, some I even use, but I agree that as healthcare professionals we need to be very careful in what we are saying to patients.

and you are free to find a doc more to your liking...

It can go the other way, though.

I have chronic back pain from sciatica and my physician refuses to acknowledge any other option of treatment but an "anti-inflammatory diet." If I hear the man mention turmeric one more time, I'll find a new doctor. Physicians should respect the right of the patient to refute alternative therapies. And there are some that don't.

Well aren't you pleasant?

There truly is medicinal value to some "herbs" and alternative treatments. Why is it okay to push a synthetic drug on a patient but mention an herb and that's wrong? One should always suggest things with a grain of salt anyway, and the doctor is the one who should be recommending treatments and medications anyway. Sometimes alternative treatments WILL help, so I see no harm in informing someone about them, but I think they should also be told they need to see the doctor about xyz medical issue.

Specializes in Eventually Midwifery.
Suffice it to say I think your behavior is ignorant and argumentative.

LOL ^^^^^^^^^^^^^this!

Specializes in NICU.

Whether herbal therapies are good or bad can be debated until the cows come home. Of course every nurse knows many drugs are derived from plants. I feel appropriate discussing FDA regulated medications because I know it is in my scope of practice. I won't discuss, mention or recommend herbal therapy in my professional role (and I don't think others should) if it's outside the scope of practice of a RN. Is it?

Specializes in med/surg.

My issue would be that a nurse is probably acting outside their scope of practice if they are giving medical advice to patients.

don't think it is within nursing practice to recommend a drug either. I always suggest a patient research something and then take it to their doc.

Whether herbal therapies are good or bad can be debated until the cows come home. Of course every nurse knows many drugs are derived from plants. I feel appropriate discussing FDA regulated medications because I know it is in my scope of practice. I won't discuss, mention or recommend herbal therapy in my professional role (and I don't think others should) if it's outside the scope of practice of a RN. Is it?
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