Disturbed Energy Field

Sarcolemma · Mar 22, 2009

I was looking through my Doenges nursing dx book, and there is a NANDA dx of Disturbed Energy Field as evidenced by objective things like waves, spikes, color changes, or holes in the pt energy flow.

nursing diagnosis are a joke, and i can't fathom why so many academics insist on teaching them. they have no value in the real world. none.

i think its part of the emperors clothes thing that nursing academia has going on (in the same vein as nursing theories and the whole idea of a mandatory DNP degree)

it completely ruins the credibility of the profession.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

disturbed energy field is used exclusively for nurses who practice and use a technique called therapeutic touch. practitioners of this modality are able to observe those waves, spikes, color changes, or holes in a patient's energy flow. shame on your teacher for "cracking up" and not educating you about this. and you can tell her that i said so. it was ignorant and very disrespectful. this technique is extremely helpful as an alternative therapy for some people who have difficulty dealing with physical pain, anxiety and depression.

the teacher should rightfully crack up as it is not scientifically supported and is, essentially, quackery.

http://www.quackwatch.com/01quackeryrelatedtopics/tt.html

Atheos · Mar 22, 2009

To play the devil's advocate...

How can we laugh at this when the majority of people in the world and the majority of Americans hold beliefs that are equally silly and practice these beliefs on a daily or weekly basis.

If we accept all of the other quackery how can we not accept this quackery?

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

OSouthern,
What exactly is this energy? What is its fundamental particle under the Standard Model? What instruments can be used to detect or measure it?
The Rogerian model is a great way to get across the concept that a patient is a whole person who lives in their own environment and not just a diagnosis on a sheet. However, that's all it is and should be viewed as - a concept. The energy field does not actually exist. It cannot be quantified, measured, or reliably detected in any sort of standardized setting. It is not there. If you have issues with the means used to try to detect such energy fields in the posts mentioned above, then you also undermine the movement of both medicine and nursing towards evidence-based practice, which relies on such studies to tell us what works and what does not. In order to do that, we must reject the magical thinking represented by things like Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, and other "energy field" based alternative treatments.

Masterfully stated.

Sarcolemma · Mar 22, 2009

If we accept all of the other quackery how can we not accept this quackery?

the difference is this has the stamp of approval as a diagnosis by the AACN.....in the same vein as hypertension, "altered skin integrity" etc

as someone else said, i don't see demon possession as a diagnosis in NANDA

"altered state of being secondary to inhabitation by Legion"

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

As I wrote previously, research has not focused on the heart of the issue: exploring and validating/discrediting the notion that the body has energetic properties. Rather, studies like the one mentioned previously sought to discredit a human's ability to detect the field of another in a single event from a small pool of practitioners. Kindly, I'll wait for more advanced technology than a single trial with a stated intent to discredit the practice entirely, particularly with what I've seen and experienced firsthand over the years.
I have no need to 'undermine the movement of medicine and nursing toward evidence-based practice'; rather, again, I hope to see more research and trials refining the nuances of how energy work produces results, (whether they be found to result from a placebo effect or not.) One small-scale trial concerning perceived practitioner ability by a nine year old girl isn't concrete proof that energy work does not have positive benefits; neither are anecdotal stories of such benefits realistic to implement therapies or further integrate energy work into treatment. Real, unbiased research is needed, (preferably not funded by quackwatch. Seriously.)
Dismissing alternative treatments undermines exactly what I find exciting about science (and medicine, for that matter): exploring, revising, adding, subtracting, refining and learning. You're absolutely right: I'll take pushing the boundaries over staid rigidity any day! We don't know everything there is to know, and I won't pretend we do.
Best,
Southern

I believe you need to familiar yourself with the concept of burden of proof.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

"in 1996, the james randi educational foundation offered $742,000 to anyone who could demonstrate an ability to detect a "human energy field" under conditions similar to those of our study. although more than 80,000 american practitioners claim to have such ability, only one person attempted to demonstrate it. she failed, and the offer, now at $1 million, has had no further takers despite extensive recruiting efforts, including a direct appeal to dr. krieger. that's not surprising, of course, because tt's proponents have nothing to gain by submitting to honest testing of their most basic assumption."

http://www.quackwatch.com/01quackeryrelatedtopics/tt.html

maybe we should start a letter writing campaign to protest nanda's acceptence of "distubed energy field" as a legit ndx. it's embarrassing.

Atheos · Mar 22, 2009

the difference is this has the stamp of approval as a diagnosis by the AACN.....in the same vein as hypertension, "altered skin integrity" etc
as someone else said, i don't see demon possession as a diagnosis in NANDA
"altered state of being secondary to inhabitation by Legion"

What I mean is who cares if prayer isn't listed as a valid treatment in some manual and accepted by some professional body.

99% of the members of that professional body believe in it.

Despite the lack of scientific evidence.

My point is, as the devil's advocate as I really think this diagnosis is silly, is that, let's say, a religious person is in no position to try and invalidate this belief in 'disturbed energy fields' due to lack of scientific evidence.

It would be highly... ironic.

ETA:

Also, the lack in belief of this idea of fields is solely due to it emanating from obscure beliefs. If it was part of the majority belief I don't think we'd see the reaction we are seeing now. IMHO

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2009

What I mean is who cares if prayer isn't listed as a valid treatment in some manual and accepted by some professional body.
99% of the members of that professional body believe in it.
Despite the lack of scientific evidence.
My point is, as the devil's advocate as I really think this diagnosis is silly, is that, let's say, a religious person is in no position to try and invalidate this belief in 'disturbed energy fields' due to lack of scientific evidence.
It would be highly... ironic.

I agree with you (as I often do on these subjects), but at least their beliefs haven't been assimilated and systematized.

Take prayer: Nowhere will NANDA claim as a nursing intervention, say, for reduced cardiac output, "intercessory prayer".

So people can believe whatever they want, but a line is crossed when something ridiculous crosses into something that purports to be a definitive guide on nursing standard of care.

Atheos · Mar 22, 2009

I agree with you (as I often do on these subjects), but at least their beliefs haven't been assimilated and systematized.
Take prayer: Nowhere will NANDA claim as a nursing intervention, say, for reduced cardiac output, "intercessory prayer".
So people can believe whatever they want, but a line is crossed when something ridiculous crosses into something that purports to be a definitive guide on nursing standard of care.

I agree with you 100%.

Was just trying to argue the opposite side.

You know I don't want to see this 'spiritual' stuff ANYWHERE. Much less as a diagnosis.

tencat · Mar 22, 2009

The fact that this is an "acceptable" ND embarrasses me.

:yeahthat:

Music in My Heart · Mar 23, 2009

Yea its like seeing Chakra or Chi, in my humble opinion its a crock of ...well you get the idea. The whole idea of waving your hands in front of someones head to alleviate a headache seems like a load. Oh well if it works for you it works.

Well, figure the placebo effect will get you 20-25% right off so everything works to one degree or another.