Natural Therapies

[Mary3010]

Can you use any natural therapies as a nurse to help patients? e.g using herbal medicine, music/art, yoga, relaxation or other natural therapies. If so, what could you do?

[iNurs5, CNA]

2 hours ago, Mary3010 said:

using herbal medicine,

No. 

[Mary3010]

12 minutes ago, Honyebee said:

No. 

Does that mean that you could incorporate music/art, yoga, relaxation or other natural therapies just not herbal medicine?

Would you need an additional qualification to? 

 

[iNurs5, CNA]

35 minutes ago, Mary3010 said:

natural therapies

Be more specific what are "natural therapies."   I'm sure that the nurses who aren't medication prescribers cannot prescribe pharmacological therapies. 

[Mary3010]

So I basically mean complementary/alternative health therapy.  

For instance in mental health, patients might benefit from various relaxing therapies like meditation, yoga, music/art etc. Maybe there are various programs that you could run or something to soothe a distressed patient. 

Also with herbal medicine I meant more if it was prescribed or if you had a further qualification you could utilise that in your care. 

I read here https://nursinglicensemap.com/nursing-specialties/registered-nurse/holistic-nursing/ Holistic nursing can include various treatments and practices: Therapeutic touch, Massage, Reflexology, Exercise and movement, Yoga, Tai chi, Guided imagery, Biofeedback, Aromatherapy, Energy therapies, Nutritional counseling, Cognitive therapy, Lifestyle counseling, Stress management, Breathing and relaxation techniques, Meditation, Mindfulness, Music and sound therapy, Art intervention, Acupress

[iNurs5, CNA]

Just now, Mary3010 said:

So I basically mean complementary/alternative health therapy.  

For instance in mental health, patients might benefit from various relaxing therapies like meditation, yoga, music/art etc. Maybe there are various programs that you could run or something to soothe a distressed patient. 

Also with herbal medicine I meant more if it was prescribed or if you had a further qualification you could utilise that in your care. 

I read here https://nursinglicensemap.com/nursing-specialties/registered-nurse/holistic-nursing/ Holistic nursing can include various treatments and practices: Therapeutic touch, Massage, Reflexology, Exercise and movement, Yoga, Tai chi, Guided imagery, Biofeedback, Aromatherapy, Energy therapies, Nutritional counseling, Cognitive therapy, Lifestyle counseling, Stress management, Breathing and relaxation techniques, Meditation, Mindfulness, Music and sound therapy, Art intervention, Acupress

It always boils down to a scope of practice. What's allowed in your area, it doesn't mean that it's allowed in my area and vice versa. I'm sure "breathing exercise" is part of nursing skills and non nurses. It can save someone's life. It should be taught early on in schools.  I'm not a nurse. I'm a student nurse. The nurse who supervised me had me facilitate art with clients. Again, I have to check my scope of practice first. 

[Mary3010]

That's true! I might post my question somewhere else and see what they think. What sort of art did you do?

[IG-11, BSN]

You can absolutely use alternative therapies as a nurse to help your patients. While you should NEVER administer something to your patients that is not explicitly ordered by a provider and processed through your hospital's pharmacy review (I.e. no herbal medicine unless explicitly ordered for your patient), alternative therapies are used every day in the workplace. I work in an ICU with very sick patients, and sometimes one of the best things for their mental health is music therapy, aroma therapy, breathing techniques... In fact, many hospitals have a formalized method for documenting the initiation of these therapies. Especially in the ICU, we are always looking for ways to make our patients more comfortable and more relaxed. If putting some music on or making the room smell better can bring my patient from a RASS of +2 to 0 you bet I'm going to be rocking out with them while we sniff our lavender oils ?

[IG-11, BSN]

P.S. If your patient can do yoga right now they probably need transfer orders.?

[Mary3010]

That's awesome that as a nurse you are providing music therapy, aromatherapy and using breathing techniques! I've never heard of the first 2 being done. With music therapy, do you only put music on or do you do other things like playing an instrument or running a program or something?

With yoga I was thinking more if you work say in the mental health ward and you run a program for instance but yes you have a point.

I suppose you could make herbal medicine recommendations to a doctor to potentially prescribe. 

[PoodleBreath]

Some herbal therapies can interact badly with meds, or can have unanticipated effects if the person recommending them is not really knowledgeable. But fostering a therapeutic mind-body connection is a huge part of health and recovery - if patients have herbal remedies that work for them and they're safe then why not? As long as there are experienced providers who can provide guidance on safety and correct usage. Things like yoga, massage, music, imaging, aromatherapy, can help people feel safer and more at peace in their bodies, rather than feeling like their bodies have become a battleground.

I would also like to add puppy and kitten therapy to the mix. 

[iNurs5, CNA]

If the music is contraindicated, I don't turn on a musical device.