Nurses who believe in herbal nonsense, alternative medicine, anti vaccine etc

roser13, ASN, RN · Mar 6, 2014

Welcome to your own rant, but have no doubt - you have alienated many of us by using inflammatory descriptors such as "charlatans," "stubborn, ""nonsense," "ignorance," et al.

As no doubt, you alienate your own patients who most need guidance. Yes, you are "all over the place" and yes, it's terrible.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 6, 2014

so the research that shows herbal/alternative medicine used in the right context that does good is wrong?? Many people believe in it and who are we to say they are wrong. I do believe if used with modern medicine and everyone from patient up to MD/Specialist is aware it can have benefits

AngelicDarkness · Mar 6, 2014

This is one of the few things that kind of upsets and bothers me so much in the nursing world (well healthcare in general, but since im in nursing it bothers me when i see it with nurses more)
But so frequently there are so many people who recommend this alternative nonense, to seeking real medical attention, and it really just worries me.
Theres the obvious danger of interactions with real medication, but then it also promotes people to either avoid actually treating their problem. Or it takes money away from going to real healthcare, and instead ends up in the pockets of these charlatans.
In nursing school I saw it so incredibly frequently, and even in the hospital I see it somewhat often. Nurses who tell patients that eating grains causes their diabetes, or ranting about GMOs and this crap. Other nurses who are stubborn/ignorant enough to avoid getting vaccinated (flu shots!) for reasons other than legitimate medical reasons (id never expect someone with a history or guillain barre or allergies to force a shot on themselves)
If medical professionals want to do all this nonsense in their personal lives, thats their right. Its just when they bring it into the workplace and involve patients in it that it really worries me.
When its relatively harmless it doesn't bother me (ie some of the out there ideas that people may have for patients to improve their pain without drugs) fine. But when it just spreads ignorance and confuses the patient, its terrible.
Im all over the place here, but just a rant

I giggled at the money from real healthcare part:) I don't mind some alternatives- don't rely too much on other medications, some effects are much worse.

mhy12784 · Mar 6, 2014

Welcome to your own rant, but have no doubt - you have alienated many of us by using inflammatory descriptors such as "charlatans," "stubborn, ""nonsense," "ignorance," et al.
As no doubt, you alienate your own patients who most need guidance. Yes, you are "all over the place" and yes, it's terrible.

Of course I wouldnt use that kind of language to a patient. Patients come in everyday taking alternative medication, as is their right.

My issue is when someone who is supposed to be a medical professional starts taking their looney tunes opinions, and presenting them to a patient.

If a patient says oh yeah I deal with occasional depression, and a nurse is like oh I take St Johns Wart and now I never get depressed. Youre pretty much telling a person who may have a legitimate condition to ignore seeing a professional, and instead take an unregulated substance with no science behind it instead.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 6, 2014

In that I agree that a nurse shouldn't be 'preaching' for better words their beliefs, we all have our own and should be respected

roser13, ASN, RN · Mar 6, 2014

Of course I wouldnt use that kind of language to a patient. Patients come in everyday taking alternative medication, as is their right.
My issue is when someone who is supposed to be a medical professional starts taking their looney tunes opinions, and presenting them to a patient.

If a patient says oh yeah I deal with occasional depression, and a nurse is like oh I take St Johns Wart and now I never get depressed. Youre pretty much telling a person who may have a legitimate condition to ignore seeing a professional, and instead take an unregulated substance with no science behind it instead.

That type of issue should be reported and dealt with. However, It's not in your best interest to paint all of your peers with the same brush, leaving yourself as the only one who treats patients appropriately. .

mhy12784 · Mar 6, 2014

so the research that shows herbal/alternative medicine used in the right context that does good is wrong?? Many people believe in it and who are we to say they are wrong. I do believe if used with modern medicine and everyone from patient up to MD/Specialist is aware it can have benefits

Im not talking about telling a patient that theyre wrong. Im talking about nurses who believe in this stuff, and then present it to a patient.

Ive seen nurses tell patients that eating gluten could be contributing to their diabetes (and im not talking in the context that its because theyre eating too many carbohydrates or something). If someone wants to eat gluten free because their yoga instructor told them its the best thing evar fine. But teaching that crap to a patient isnt right.

allnurses Guide · Mar 6, 2014

I don't think it's all nonsense and nursing itself acknowledges this with some nursing diagnoses and interpretations included in the broad specialty of holistic health.

It is because the alternative therapies are not benign that the primary care provider deserves to know what a nurse is suggesting and what the patient is adding/taking away from the regimen just as they would the changes adopted at the advice of another provider of traditional medical treatment.

mhy12784 · Mar 6, 2014

That type of issue should be reported and dealt with. However, It's not in your best interest to paint all of your peers with the same brush, leaving yourself as the only one who treats patients appropriately. .

Not at all, I certainly dont think im the standard at all.

I really dont mind people believing whatever they believe (ok it bothers me a little when someone rants to me about how great their non science based idea is). Its really just when it spills into patients.

And not always so blunt and cut and dry like the above example. But sometimes its silly things like people telling patients about their fruitarian diets, or how they should try going vegan.

Just another real example. But like 15 or so people I previously went to nursing school with got ""certified"" in Reiki over the summer. Now I dont work with most of them, but id be really damn worried if I saw nurses on my unit trying to perform Reiki on a patient.

TU RN, DNP, CRNA · Mar 6, 2014

Herbals have been proven by plenty of different independent trials to be beneficial, but since so many of them conflict with more mainstream, fully-FDA-endorsed treatment modalities, they're usually brushed off. I can't say I disagree with that either. As far as herbal medicine seems to go it's either one or the other (herbal or mainstream), as many of them interact with common medications.

"Alternative medicine" is a pretty broad classification. I've run into patients who've had chronic back pain managed by meditation and guided imagery and opted out of narcotic analgesia, like many with such a condition. Honestly I was relieved. If somebody can focus on some solitary idea or image and remove themselves from pain without medication, that is a truly amazing and beautiful thing. Good for them (Plus, I'm not in their room q2h on the minute with that dilaudid).

I agree completely with people who turn away from immunizations. Prevention is the best strategy for pretty much every serious illness, and a healthcare professional who doesn't advocate for immunizations can't advocate for their patients well-being. Unless you have a legitimate allergy or contraindication (as indicated by CDC) to a vaccine, get your shots.

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 6, 2014

As a former herbalist-turned-RN, I find your posts highly offensive. Did you know that most modern pharmaceuticals are derived from botanicals? Did you know that in Europe, herbal products go through just as much rigorous research as drugs? Did you know that many herbal remedies actually do WORK, based on actual research and controlled studies, and aren't just snake oil? I also hope you understand the difference between "herbs" and "homeopathy" because those are two COMPLETELY different things.