NP for CAM/Integrative Health Pain Mgmt?

[duttyprofessor]

Hello all!

The only other post I've made on here was in the CNS forum, so this is kind of strange..haha.

I've spent every year since I graduated with my BSN in 2005 contemplating what to go back to school for and I feel like I'm on the brink. I'm board certified in holistic nursing and pediatric nursing, and through these certifications and dealing with peds heme/onc, I've discovered that my passion is in pain management through integrative means (ex. CAM modalities - acupuncture, guided imagery, meditation, reiki, etc.). I would love to keep developing my skills and function in an outpatient clinic for pain control.

With these passions, my fiancee (going back to school to become an occupational therapist) and I have a pipe dream of working in an integrative pain clinic together someday. They exist! We know it may not happen for a while, but I wanted to see if there are NPs that do things like that. When I was thinking CNS, I was thinking how to change hospital policy in those matters and I realize that even though you have leeway in the CNS role in the hospitals, you're kind of constrained by what everyone else wants you to do as well.

Thoughts? Do you all think a FNP would be superior to a PNP long term even though I dig the pediatric work I do in the hospital? I'd take any that you all have!

Namaste,

Chris

[nrcnurse]

Check out Florida Atlantic University. They have a MSN in holistic nursing and post-masters certificate for NP. Their philosophy is based on Jean Watson's theory of Caring, and they teach energy and integrative modalities.