Meditation or Yoga (non traditional training)

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When I graduate from nursing school in the next two years. I am wanting to have added a few other certifications. In everyone's experience, have you noticed nurses with non-traditional training to have made a difference on the job. Meaning that they were able to help soothe patients by teaching them meditation for relaxation or pain relief....etc.

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I have never seen any of those used in "traditional" hospital nursing. I thought about getting other certs in holistic medicine (yoga, massage, acupressure, ect.) but seems like a waste of time in most cases. Many patients aren't open to the idea of mediation and I don't know if yoga would go over well either. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has done this stuff and had good results. I wish there was more of it in the hospital. Maybe in long term care.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I wish I had time to even think about helping my patients this way. I work on a medsurg floor. Sadly it would not make any difference.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

In general, teaching someone anything requires that they have a readiness to learn, and you need an appropriate environment to teach it. I don't think you will find either in a hospital room. Maybe you could start your own side business using these techniques in conjunction with your nursing training.

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So none of your hospitals have a wellness center where meditation classes or yoga classes are offered? I have watched many documentaries concerning pre-surgical meditation to help patients cope with their surgeries. Surely there are places actually using this?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I've used a little bit of "guided meditation" with patients, asking them to close their eyes and imagine a happy place and relax etc., as well as deep breathing relaxation exercises.. But it's ususally done quickly because there's not much time in my day for a whole lot of this type of therepy. It does seem to help on certain patients.

Yoga is not appropriate in the hospital inpatient setting where I work.

My facility does have a gym for employees, and used to have yoga classes for employees as well.

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At the very least I will be able to de-stress myself as well as my husband! I have a feeling that these certifications will be very useful in the future and will continue to pursue it.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
At the very least I will be able to de-stress myself as well as my husband! I have a feeling that these certifications will be very useful in the future and will continue to pursue it.

For your own personal and professional development go for it. Certification and knowledge is never wasted. Yoga instructor certification is pretty intense and takes a while to get if it's done right. You never know what the future will bring you, but know that for most inpatient and outpatient settings it's just not used a lot. But alternative therapy clinics are popping up all over the place.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
I wish I had time to even think about helping my patients this way...

Ditto. This is the situation at all health care facilities / environments I've worked... hospitals, case management, LTC and AL. There's simply been no time for this... though it'd be fun.

Good luck!

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