Can nurses suggest alternative medicine therapies?

[Blackheartednurse]

I work home health and I do a lots of teaching,I was wondering if teaching people about home remedies is out of my scope of practice as RN.I have this particular patient and she has GERD among other chronic conditions.Now I'm teaching her about GERD,I did some research and found out that Aloe Vera sooths esophagus but I also found out that it can be a powerful laxative unless one purchases one without ingredients that have laxative qualities.I also found out that aloe vera interacts with some meds like potassium wasting diuretics,some antiarrythmics and blood sugar oral meds.Then again we dont need an order for another home remedies like prune juices,etc.

[pharmgirl]

I was always taught, and have also experienced nurses informing of home remedies. In fact, my favorite nurse practitioner would also give me home things to try before immediately moving to meds. With that said, it is also important that if we are educating patients to home remedies we don't "prescribe" or tell them to do such and such and make sure they are aware of interactions and to always tell their doctor of any herbals they are on or thinking of taking.

Pts can go to walmart and find all sorts of OTC things, it is our job to educate them and make sure they are disclosing such.

[Davey Do]

Blackheartednurse;

Dietary counselling falls within the realm of a nurse's area of practise.

Any concerns, contact the PMD.

BTW: Cabbage is an excellent food to quell GI disress. Case in point: I had a young pregnant female client who was dosed on methadone. She was experiencing some morning sickness and would have to wait around the clinic, in case she vomitted after her dose. We couldn't dose her again if we didn't witness the emesis. One morning, I just happened to have some shredded cabbage in my lunch, along with some other veggies. She ate the cabbage and it helped relieve her nausea. From then on, during her morning sickness episodes, she ate cabbage to help settle her stomach.

I extend my appreciation to you for attempting natural alternative methods to standardize remedies.

Dave

[jkaee]

As a general rule, I would tell all your patients to check with their doctor first before starting any CAM techniques/herbal medicines, just to be on the safe side.

[anonymurse]

Prescription is outside my scope. I don't care if the item could be classed a food supplement. If she has problems with GERD and she's not on a proton pump inhibitor, I'd ask the doc if there were any reason why not. And that's as far as I'd go, because GERD is a medical condition, and she has a medical resource to go to about medical conditions, and that wouldn't be me.

[sethmctenn]

You can't prescribe but you can suggest dietary changes, including foods that may support and foods that may hinder a process. I frequently recommend ginger tea (if not on an anticoagulant), fennel seeds, chamomile tea, throat coat tea and other herbs and spices that improve digestion. The American Holstic Nurse's Association has a standards and scope of practice publication that outlines what nurses can and cannot do. Of course, your state board is the ultimate authority on what is and is not allowed for you.