How do I get involved in Alternative/Holistic nursing?

[Sarah27]

What do you do when you have a nursing degree but don't believe in Western medicine or our health care system? I recently received my BSN degree and through my schooling came to the realization that I very much disagree with our health care system and Western medicine. I do not want to work in a hospital and am more interested in working in holistic/alternative nursing but have no idea where to begin to get into that field. Has anyone else had these feelings? I would appreciate any advice on this, I feel completely lost right now. I am still interested in helping people and being a nurse, but I don't feel that Western medicine is really that helpful. No one else in my nursing school cared to try and understand my feelings/beliefs, so now that I am done I am really trying to find others who do, but am having a hard time. I don't want to be a typical nurse in a hospital because I feel that by giving medications and other Western medicine treatments I would be going against what I believe. I didn't work as hard as I did in school to not use my knowledge. I know that I am a very compassionate and caring person who is great with people, I just need to find the right place for me and don't know where to begin!

[BetsyRN1]

i'm a holistic rn and i felt the same way as you. i've always wanted to help people, but was not a fan of hospitals or pushing medication. after nursing school, i worked on a psych unit for a few year to get hospital experience, but could no longer keep doing it because i felt that hospitals were all about money & did not care about the patients.....they were simply dollar signs to the "hospital business". i always believed in natural medicine and loved teaching my patient about natural healing therapies, so i decided to look for a holistic nursing program. it can be hard to find a program, but i enrolled in the one i found...the ny college of health professions. the program revolved around chinese medicine & amma therapy, and even had clinicals in the teaching clinic so we got hands on experience with real patients....it was tough, but i'm so happy i did it. i love holistic nursing and being able to teach people how they can heal themselves. since graduating from there, i took certification classes in reiki & raindrop therapy. i'm glad i finally found my niche in nursing, and do love it, but since holistic medicine i not yet mainstream or covered ny insurance, it is difficult to find a job as a holistic nurse....you have to create it yourself sometimes. i worked at an integrative healing center providing holistic treatments, and now working in a city office with my own business.

i have a fan page on facebook if you'd like to check it out.

i'm not sure where you live, but you should look into holistic nursing programs in your area.

i believe that you should always do what makes you happy! hope this helped :)

[MBARN]

If I am passionate about integrative/alternative health and PREVENTION of disease, which is the best degree to get, would

it be ANP or FNP?

[LJ85, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN]

I am so glad to see a section on holistic care. I have not yet decided what path I would like to go down as far as specializing in nursing. My best friends mother has end stage cancer and I started watching a lot of movies on Netflix about juicing fasts, Gerson therapy, natural remedies vs meds and I whole heartedly agree that natural I the way to go; however, if the patient is not responding to natural treatment, I feel that there are times when med therapy may be appropriate. I would like to learn more info about getting into this area of nursing, luckily I am in the Tri state area near NYC and Philly so maybe there's something?

[kchilla]

I agree with every single word you posted. I feel absolutely the same way. I am currently a nursing student. I, too, got into nursing knowing that many lessons that will be taught in school will go against my belief in patient care. I do not like to encourage western medicine if it is not necessary. I don't mind med-surg but optimally I rather not be the one who just push meds on patients. I believe in healthy lifestyle. I also feel lost while I am in Nursing school. Some days I feel okay about myself. Some days I feel like I have chosen the wrong path and I don't belong. Thank you for posting this as I can relate to you and take information from the replies. I am glad that there are people out there who has the same belief :)

[kchilla]

Holistic nursing is something I would love to do. I have researched for it awhile back but don't have a lot of info. Right now my second choice would be Nursing patient educator but ultimately, holistic is my niche no doubt about it.

I also have Maternity-child (hope to work in a natural birthing center, not too much meds) or Nurse Informatics in mind because I am a computer person. At least I won't have to be pushing meds on patients, but I will lose the chacne to educate patients. But that's if I cannot find holistic nursing/nurse patient educator.

[palmbeachRN]

Thanks EVERYONE for the helpful information! I'm in my early 20s, I have been a nurse for two years (tele) and 89% of the ways we treat patients, I disagree with. When I first started nursing, I looked down on alternative medicine as "phony". Then, as I saw what people are doing to themselves by just popping pills and living an unhealthy lifestyle, I realized that something has to change. So many people are dependent on meds and they don't realize it. I have healed myself with TONS of research and blown my doctor's mind with how I got off of meds and healed ulcers naturally after being on EVERY SINGLE antacid medication for years. Granted, it took a lot of trial and error, but it worked with nutrition, herbal remedies, and relaxation/meditation. I would love to share this information with others and learn more. I will be looking at getting certifications through AHNA. Also, I like the ULAN systems! Thanks so much everyone. Can't wait to see where my career takes me!