Disturbed Energy Field? Yes or No?

lilyflower06 · Apr 29, 2010

This is an old post but I hope this message will still be read. I am a nurse who can perceive the aura (bio-

electromagnetic energy field) that surrounds all living beings & can be visualized "scientifically" throught the use of Kirlian photography. I know this is controversial as this is not mainstream practice, however in many non-western practices of health/healing this is very normal & accepted. Here in N. Amercia, the use of Therapeutic Touch & other modalites of energy work are being increasingly utilized as a complimentary treatment for any disease process.

I work on a rural community hospital medical floor with a variety of patients- pre/post-op surgical, cardiac, palliative, acute & sub acute. I am a trained Jikiden Reiki practioner & offer sessions to both my patients & coworkers with excellent outcomes/positive feedback. It's unfortunate that in the "sick-care" industry where often we are merely mending & masking not truly healing underlying disease processes that we can't be more open to other ways. These practices are ancient & have survived the test of time in other cultures because they work. I feel very blessed that other options to help my patients. I realize there are many skeptics but just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'm sure many Holistic nurses worked hard to have NANDA include the "disturbed energy field" on the list. I'm grateful to those pioneers who are ahead of their time. :nurse: :yeah:

jzkfel · May 6, 2010

I'd like to see all of the nursing diagnosises (?) go away. My understanding is that they were created to help establish nursing as its own profession, but they have the effect of introducing language and terms that aren't used or understood by other members of the health care team (like docotors, pharmacists, physical therapists). Alteration in fluid balance? Why not call it what it is? (dehydration or fluid overload)

As far as disturbed energy field, where is the empirical EVIDENCE to support that diagnosis? Kirilian photography may show some visual phenomenom around a person, but defining it as an energy field that affects their physiological status is an assumption.

That's not to say that alternative therapies don't help people. I would be much more comfortable if we acknowledged that they work for some people, for reasons that are unclear or at least not universally understood. It's not enough to say that certain people can sense other people's "auras". A diagnosis has to based on evidence that can be ascertained by and communicated to virtually all investigators.

allnurses Guide · May 7, 2010

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This is an old post but I hope this message will still be read. I am a nurse who can perceive the aura (bio-electromagnetic energy field) that surrounds all living beings & can be visualized "scientifically" throught the use of Kirlian photography.

As pointed out in the excellent summary above, whatever Kirlian photography reveals can't be assumed to be an "aura", let alone what kind of aura it is. It's unlikely that even 2 "holistic" nurses will agree, kept completely independent of each other. It's entirely subjective to the "see-er" and the "seen". It's not the least bit surprising that people who believe it works report that it works. If something is intended to treat a condition in the physical realm, though, it should be quantifiable in the physical realm by other nurses who are caring for that patient. There should not be, as part all nursing curriculums, a modality that is not seen by other than the nurse who claims to have a special gift.

I'm the first to say that non-traditional modalities can be very beneficial, and it's perfectly legal for an RN to become a practitioner of Reiki, Aroma-therapy, Rolfing, Acu-pressure, Gestalt therapy, pet therapy, Therapeutic Touch, Re-birthing or any one of dozens of alternative therapies available.

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I know this is controversial as this is not mainstream practice, however in many non-western practices of health/healing this is very normal & accepted. Here in N. Amercia, the use of Therapeutic Touch & other modalites of energy work are being increasingly utilized as a complimentary treatment for any disease process.

It has no place in nursing school curricula. It can't be taught, and there is no way to know exactly what it is that one nurse is seeing, or even if they are telling the truth about it, if there even was a truth. Is that aura green? Orange? Who knows? What if I see black spikes and you see a golden halo?

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I work on a rural community hospital medical floor with a variety of patients- pre/post-op surgical, cardiac, palliative, acute & sub acute. I am a trained Jikiden Reiki practioner & offer sessions to both my patients & coworkers with excellent outcomes/positive feedback.

Do you do this during your working hours at the hospital as an RN? Do these patient's doctors order these things? Does insurance pay for it? If this stuff is really a "diagnosis" that works, it should be done in a controlled setting, with the agreement of the MD (otherwise if there is a miraculous cure he won't know what to attribute it to, or will attribute it mistakenly to something he ordered, putting other patients at risk) and since the vast majority of doctors and the lay public think it's "iffy" at best, we should not have to pay for it.

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It's unfortunate that in the "sick-care" industry where often we are merely mending & masking not truly healing underlying disease processes that we can't be more open to other ways. These practices are ancient & have survived the test of time in other cultures because they work.

I know lots of people believe a myriad of things work. They have survived the test of time because it has been empirically proven that one's beliefs affect the subjective experience of illness. Millions of people probably believe a trip to Lourdes will work. Or Peter Popoff laying hands on your forehead will work. The best that can be said, is that since they don't (usually) cause harm, a nurse can independently practice those alternative modalities. These things are not without risk, though.

Some years ago in Colorado, a little girl suffocated in a sheet wrapped around her, which was supposed to simulate a replacement trip through the birth canal in an effort to cure her "attachment disorder". If I think about what she went through too much, I won't be able to sleep at night. Isolated and extreme case? Yeah, probably, but the point is if you feel that sort of thing is "well-care" it should be subject to the same scrutiny and regulation as what you call "sick-care".

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I feel very blessed that other options to help my patients. I realize there are many skeptics but just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

And just because you believe something exists doesn't mean it does.

I'm glad you are able to help people feel better with your alternative practices, but it's a mistake to include them in a care plan. I think Nursing Diagnoses are silly and superfluous, too, though the issues they attempt to describe are not. They do provide lots of fodder for academic flights of fancy, though, and can be an interesting read.

NightNurse876 · Aug 22, 2010

So funny that many people have a problem believing this...just as hundreds of years ago some denounced the germ theory..I guess if a computer doesnt print it out or its not written in a 1,000pg textbook, then it isnt true.

Well I AM A BELIEVER! This post is on the holistic page and Reiki (if you went to nursing school you heard of this) amongst other alternative therapies, deals with energy. On the smallest level, an atom, there is energy and energy fields...so if we are made of atoms then guess what...we have energy fields!

If holistic nursing in a specialty then this should be a dx...specific to the field. A regular nurse may not understand and should not use a dx if the are not familiar with it...I wouldnt, not if I dont kno what it is nor see how it applies.

I can say that I have been lucky enough to see the fields around grass once...great day. Havent seen it around people but I know some people that have. You have to be in a particular state of mind to see/experience somethings and by the looks of some of these comments not many people (non believers) will ever see them : )

NightNurse876 · Aug 22, 2010

nursel56 said:
As pointed out in the excellent summary above, whatever Kirlian photography reveals can't be assumed to be an "aura", let alone what kind of aura it is. It's unlikely that even 2 "holistic" nurses will agree, kept completely independent of each other. It's entirely subjective to the "see-er" and the "seen". It's not the least bit surprising that people who believe it works report that it works. If something is intended to treat a condition in the physical realm, though, it should be quantifiable in the physical realm by other nurses who are caring for that patient. There should not be, as part all nursing curriculums, a modality that is not seen by other than the nurse who claims to have a special gift.
I'm the first to say that non-traditional modalities can be very beneficial, and it's perfectly legal for an RN to become a practitioner of Reiki, Aroma-therapy, Rolfing, Acu-pressure, Gestalt therapy, pet therapy, Therapeutic Touch, Re-birthing or any one of dozens of alternative therapies available.
It has no place in nursing school curricula. It can't be taught, and there is no way to know exactly what it is that one nurse is seeing, or even if they are telling the truth about it, if there even was a truth. Is that aura green? Orange? Who knows? What if I see black spikes and you see a golden halo?
Do you do this during your working hours at the hospital as an RN? Do these patient's doctors order these things? Does insurance pay for it? If this stuff is really a "diagnosis" that works, it should be done in a controlled setting, with the agreement of the MD (otherwise if there is a miraculous cure he won't know what to attribute it to, or will attribute it mistakenly to something he ordered, putting other patients at risk) and since the vast majority of doctors and the lay public think it's "iffy" at best, we should not have to pay for it.
I know lots of people believe a myriad of things work. They have survived the test of time because it has been empirically proven that one's beliefs affect the subjective experience of illness. Millions of people probably believe a trip to Lourdes will work. Or Peter Popoff laying hands on your forehead will work. The best that can be said, is that since they don't (usually) cause harm, a nurse can independently practice those alternative modalities. These things are not without risk, though.
Some years ago in Colorado, a little girl suffocated in a sheet wrapped around her, which was supposed to simulate a replacement trip through the birth canal in an effort to cure her "attachment disorder". If I think about what she went through too much, I won't be able to sleep at night. Isolated and extreme case? Yeah, probably, but the point is if you feel that sort of thing is "well-care" it should be subject to the same scrutiny and regulation as what you call "sick-care".
And just because you believe something exists doesn't mean it does.
I'm glad you are able to help people feel better with your alternative practices, but it's a mistake to include them in a care plan. I think Nursing Diagnoses are silly and superfluous, too, though the issues they attempt to describe are not. They do provide lots of fodder for academic flights of fancy, though, and can be an interesting read.

Im sad that people gave kudos to this post...no offense. I havent read them all and am sure other comments will hurt as well. HOLISTIC NURSING PPL. If you are a holistic nurse you look for things outside of big pharma to help HEAL people not MASK things. Energy therapy is one of them. If one is a Holistic Nurse what kind of diagnoses should be used then? How should care plans be written? Give the guidelines...So many are quick to say 'nay nay nay' but give no solutions. If I am trained in reiki and I balance energy how should I state my patients problem? My intervention has to match and if I'm doing energy work how can I properly document what I plan to do? Should I make it up? Well...no...so then what?

So many opinions regarding this but no one is dumbing it down so you can really look at it and say well...this is possible instead of saying 'nay nay nay' Use your brains ppl..actually your hearts, as corney as it sounds...

allnurses Guide · Aug 23, 2010

I'm saddened that you are sad and want to take my kudos away, especially since I'm one of the least judgemental participants here. But to save you the trouble of reading them a few highlights - "Disturbed Energy Field" is----

"hooey"

"nonsensical"

"makes us all look like doofuses"

"ridiculous"

"fluff"

"a crock"

"New Age nonsense"

and "false biomedprofet" or was that bioenergyprofet?

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. . .This post is on the holistic page and Reiki (if you went to nursing school you heard of this) amongst other alternative therapies, deals with energy. On the smallest level, an atom, there is energy and energy fields...so if we are made of atoms then guess what...we have energy fields!

A straw man argument. No one is claiming that matter does not consist of energy. They are saying it doesn't prove that people emit auras. If you read through the thread, you'll understand the frame of reference here and your derisive tone, while still unpleasant, at least has a chance to reach the intended targets. Also Madame Curie didn't attempt to cure a brain tumor with radioactive elements. The DEF people claim to actually heal the physical body by altering Disturbed spikes and waveforms.

NightNurse876 said:
Im sad that people gave kudos to this post...no offense. I havent read them all and am sure other comments will hurt as well. HOLISTIC NURSING PPL. Nurse what kind of diagnoses should be used then? How should care plans be written? Give the guidelines...So many are quick to say 'nay nay nay' but give no solutions. If I am trained in reiki and I balance energy how should I state my patients problem? My intervention has to match and if I'm doing energy work how can I properly document what I plan to do? Should I make it up? Well...no...so then what?
So many opinions regarding this but no one is dumbing it down so you can really look at it and say well...this is possible instead of saying 'nay nay nay' Use your brains ppl..actually your hearts, as corney as it sounds...

All good questions! This thread wasn't in the Holistic Forum before. That's why there are so many opinions from General Nursing. Maybe there should be "Reiki" diagnoses instead of trying to graft an alternative New Agey thing onto every nurse. I'd love to see someone make a hypothetical case study based on the above paragraph.

NightNurse876 · Aug 23, 2010

Nursel56,

I dont want to take ur kudos away luv...just saddened that so many people feel the way they do. The nastier comments, thankfully, had no kudos, lol. And derisive and unpleasant? A bit harsh, no? Just giving my opinion as we all do. I did see some of those comments but your comment moved me to reply again, as I had already made a post. Thanks for the info on it being moved, I saw this was an old thread. Anyways I am sorry you felt that way about my tone...I dont see it much different from your posting, which I dont find derisive, maybe it's because I chose to reply to yours in particular that you may feel attacked in some way, not my intention at all. But you are part of the 'intended targets', as you put it and I am sure the other 'intended targets' will read my posts as well. Again no intention to be offensive to anyone, just replying to opinions with opinions...And my strawman argument as you put it was intended to make people think about the things that they do accept as truth and how closely related things are. The argument is if the energy fields exist. People accept that atoms hold, transfer, emit energy so there must be some kind of field, if not the atoms would not be able to do what they do. So...If there is an energy field around a person couldnt that be considered an aura, by definition? A specific color or pattern or look is not part of the definition of the word. I know some think aura...saint or some jesus picture, etc but that's not what it is. To an outsider looking in with no research on the matter much can be said. A little research goes a long way...Its funny one of the posts says something about not being too openminded bc you dont want your brain to fall out...funny enough when you look at some things like metaphysics you would want your brain to fall out, lol. In the end you feel how you feel bc of whatever reason, as do I. And if I wasnt tired of school I probably would do a careplan...after I was instucted in Reiki and how to have the universal life energy flow through. And I dont think there is intent to graft any alternative thing into every nurse...who said you had to use every diagnosis...its there use it or not...dont use it if you dont know it, the end. And its not New Agey(hate that term) this stuff is as old as dirt : ) just being rediscovered widely...There is nothing new under a sun....

allnurses Guide · Aug 23, 2010

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QUOTE=NightNurse876;4493206]Nursel56,
I dont want to take ur kudos away luv...just saddened that so many people feel the way they do. The nastier comments, thankfully, had no kudos, lol. And derisive and unpleasant? A bit harsh, no?

Maybe it was the "use your brains, people" that gave me that impression. But keyboard communication is notoriously bad for conveying a mood and intention. Anyway, my opinion only applies to the NANDA diagnosis of "disturbed energy field" as it is taught in nursing schools and intended to be used in non-specialized areas. So the question isn't so much if they exist as it is can nurses use interventions for something most can't see, and if two people who say they can see auras are independently asked to describe the aura of the same patient, the auras as defined by NANDA as follows. . .

Perception of change in

Movement-wave/spike/tingling/dense/flowing

Sounds tone/words

Temperature

Color/image

Disruption of the field deficient/hole/spike/bulge/obstruction/congestion/diminished flow

. . . will never match up. If there is no way to come to agreement on the problem, there is no way to know how to treat it that all nurses can employ and no way to track progress except that everyone agree that one of the team members can accurately see the auras and simply take his or her word for it as to the effectiveness of the intervention. That scenario is unworkable in regular nursing practice. Several of my posts made that distinction ie "I'm not saying that something does not exist just because I can't see it". I'm not trying to give you a hard time! Honest. I felt as if you misunderstood my post. Now you feel I misunderstood your post. I love allnurses. I wonder what percentage of the conflicts that arise here aren't really conflicts at all, but misperceptions. Anyway thanks for responding. I think we probably agree on more than it appears here in print. :nurse:

allnurses Guide · Feb 22, 2020

I certainly had a lot of time on my hands way back when.... ☺️Looks like "disturbed energy field" is now called "imbalanced energy field".

On 8/23/2010 at 4:27 PM, nursel56 said:
I love allnurses.

Still do!

Conan · Feb 25, 2020

The abject ignorance and bullying in this tread is a problem. Not every person used every Nursing dx but they are important to the nursing profession. If not used then nursing becomes invisible as a profession and easily replaceable by medical technicians that simply follow orders and do not have the education to use formal critical thinking. Nursing DX are tools that help a nurse document critical thinking. They are a pain, but they serve a valid purpose and justify the need for the profession. Remember too that medicine and nursing are two different but collaborative professions.