functional/integrative/alternative medicine NPs!

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Hi there!! 

I was hoping to find any NPs who work in more of an alternative medicine practice including functional & integrative medicine. I am considering going on for my FNP but only to go into this realm of medicine. Any information would be helpful including how you like this type of practitioner role and advice on how you got there. 

 

Thanks! 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I too am interested in this.

 

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Specializes in Ob.

Wow learned lots from this ! 

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Specializes in RN BSN.

I am in the process of starting my NP Program in adult Gergentelogy Primary Care in February 2023. It was a blessing to learn about this specialty because I am not a hospital nurse, and the other things intimidate me. My focus is to combine my credential with Functional Medicine and have an independent practice. I am in a class functional medicine for nurses currently. I am 70 years old and still doing home visits in the community. I was about to retire, but this was the best option after reassessing my circumstances. If not now, when I ask myself this question, the answer is NOW.

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Specializes in Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach.

I work in the functional medicine space and have experience and knowledge for learning how to implement functional medicine within the conventional model as well as entrepreneurial setting. Feel free to DM me.

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Specializes in Skepticism, Anti Quackery.

I would be careful with this. 

"You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? - Medicine.” ― Tim Minchin

NP's should be practicing evidence or science based medicine. Often times many of these "alternative" treatments are backed by zero to very little evidence. For example, the risks of cupping far outweigh the benefits and should not be recommended. Homeopathic "medicine" are just placebos Homeopathic/Naturopathic "doctors" are mostly viewed as quacks in the scientific community. Many Chiros are claiming they can help with asthma and various other things that are truly out of their scope of practice. Just a few things to think about and be aware of. A great starting point to investigate pseudoscientific claims is over at https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/   while this is more of a blog format they do list the current research with links on each topic. We need more NP's to become members of the Skeptic community.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, ICU/CCU, GE Lab.

I thought I'd post this link from NIH   https://www.nccih.nih.gov/

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Specializes in APRN.

Hey, this is great.  I guess func med is not well represented among the population of NPs on this message board.  I have been doing a lot of continuing education lately, both ANCC approved and my own learning, re: functional medicine.   I am REALLY loving the material. 

 

Truth be told, I want to join with a group next year to establish a virtual practice to supplement (and maybe replace) my hours for dollars patient care practice.   There's a price tag to it, but I think the potential is worth it.  

 

So along the way, I've been following the Institute of Functional Medicine (really pricey certification) and a couple of lesser known competitor organizations, the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and some oddball programs I've found on Instagram as well as programs put together on Pesi (mostly nutrition-oriented) that I've been able to get at discounted rates or for free for the exposure sake.   I'm actually also VERY interested in undergoing personal trainer certification through the  National Association of Sports Medicine (mostly because it's actually cheap and quasi-easy for persons of our backgrounds). 

 

Along the way, I've discovered some graduate certificate programs in these areas through B&M universities as well as 3-4 DNP programs that offer training in this.  My state's DNP programs are all much less expensive.  Truth be told, I was never "really" enchanted by nursing or conventional medicine.  Perhaps that's why I chose psychiatry as a specialty?  But a decade later, I find myself really craving more physiology and pathophysiology training -which I'm also doing- and this functional medicine arena that I previously thought was all "BS." 

 

Would anyone here like to communicate privately about these matters?  

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Specializes in Board Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach.

I have explored these and ultimately chose The School of Applied Functional Medicine and I don't regret it at all. I'm happy to share my thoughts on programs if you want to reach out directly to me @CuriousConundrum

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Specializes in APRN.
Skeptic said:

I would be careful with this. 

"You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? - Medicine.” ― Tim Minchin

NP's should be practicing evidence or science based medicine. Often times many of these "alternative" treatments are backed by zero to very little evidence. For example, the risks of cupping far outweigh the benefits and should not be recommended. Homeopathic "medicine" are just placebos Homeopathic/Naturopathic "doctors" are mostly viewed as quacks in the scientific community. Many Chiros are claiming they can help with asthma and various other things that are truly out of their scope of practice. Just a few things to think about and be aware of. A great starting point to investigate pseudoscientific claims is over at https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/   while this is more of a blog format they do list the current research with links on each topic. We need more NP's to become members of the Skeptic community.

I think it depends on what you're looking to do.  I agree that a chiropractor curing acne or something is rather dubious.  

For me, in psych, I seldom ever see psych patients reach any sort of sustainable wellness.  Our understanding of what causes psychopathology, the medications, and even what we're labeling/diagnosing is somewhat suspect.  Most of the time the patients return complaining about rather recent stressors than reflecting on their long-term improvements or stability, and irregularly are any psychotherapists using evidence-based psychotherapy opting instead for positive regard and what I call "chatting."  However, we know CBT, mindfulness, and other EBPs actually work if the therapist and patient would train in them.  Very frustrating.  Almost always, the SMI population, is doing absolutely nothing to address 5 lifestyle factors (nutrition, exercise, sleep quality, stress management, and social engagement), yet those that make efforts to seem to improve, functionally, beyond those that don't.  To that end, I've actually become more interested in consultation and coaching (not prescribing or diagnosing) on the area of lifestyle.  To round home on this, I think once we springboard into that field we're not really operating as conventional NPs anymore and rather as consultants - taking what we've seen does work, doesn't work, and doesn't really work well enough to advise those willing to pay us directly.  

 As a counterpoint to your claims, however, there isn't going to be a dearth of evidence on lifestyle changes because it's not a reimbursable activity under our conventional payment structure.  In 13 years of nursing, until the last several months, I've never made efforts to discuss any lifestyle mechanisms because 1) most people hearing them don't give a rip and 2) it's not been a billable activity, but if we like to education and someone is willing to pay for that then we're  win:win.   Cupping, magnets, crystals, *most* essential oil dogma and so forth remain activities I'm jaded about and wouldn't recommend.  Actually, I don't think chiropractic care is fully legit either although moving displaced things back into their purpose-built location makes sense for which my PCP is a DO and has adjusted me providing instant and long-term relief from SI joint dysfunction commonly upset by bending and twisting, a bad day doing squats, and twice even from coughing! Age sucks LOL.  

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Specializes in APRN.
Jen L said:

I have explored these and ultimately chose The School of Applied Functional Medicine and I don't regret it at all. I'm happy to share my thoughts on programs if you want to reach out directly to me @CuriousConundrum

I don't think I've posted enough to send direct messages.  I'm a chatty kathy...chatty kevin?...so standby, LOL. 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I don't know if others have noticed this but medicine and big pharma have shifted from finding cures to disease to a disease management model. They could easily coninue to look for cures but instead they create drugs that help to manage symptoms, which is exactly what complementary practioners do. Diebetes is a multibillion dollar industry for Big Pharma.  Almost all the diabetes drugs other than insulin  are targeted at managing diabetes. Several cancer drugs are the same. Why? Because the profits for Big pharmaand in  are astronomical. Someone told me a few years ago that insulin could be purchased OTC without a prescription. I was skeptical so I went to walmart asked for a vile of regular insulin and walked out of the store with said vial and having  $20.00 less in my pocket than when I walked in. Now I woould never suggest that someone attempt to manage their diabetes with OTC insulin but this is one of the dangers of Dr. Google.

Many assume that integrative and functional medicaine is just quack cures an in some regards they are right. However the history of medicine stands on th shoulders of funcional medicine practitioners such a Hippocrates, Ibn Sina from Persia who was practicing Cataract removal in the 900's CE. His great work the Canon on Medicine is still used in some medical schools to this day. Almost all the great physicians of the middle ages trained in Persia or the far east. 

I am studying these ancient works as part of a personal journey to be a functional health coach. Mainly to help incorporate holistic practices that complement modern medicine in the areas of symptom management. 

Are there dishonest practioners out there who peddel false hope to terminal patients? There sure are! but there are also many, honest, intelligent and kind people whose only goal is to help people have a high level of function regardless of their current health status. 

If others would like to discuss this topic come to the break room where there is group for this topic.

Hppygr8ful

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