Transcultural Nursing - Organized around a common activity,

occupation, age, ethnic background, race,

- According to Leininger: religion, or any other unifying social
o Describes the blending of nursing condition.
and anthropology.
 Anthropology- the study of Ethnicity
human society and culture
- Perception of oneself and a sense of
and its development.
belonging to a particular ethnic group. It can
o Focuses on people’s culturally
also mean feeling that one does not belong
based beliefs, attitudes, values, to any group because of multiethnicity.
behaviors, and practices related to - Includes a commitment to and involvement
health, illness, healing, and human in cultural customs and rituals.
caring.
Race
Goal of Transcultural Nursing
- A group of people who share such
- To develop a scientific and humanistic body genetically transmitted traits as skin color,
of knowledge in order to provide culture- hair texture, and eye shape or color.
specific and culture-universal nursing care
practices for individuals, families, groups, Leininger’s Contributions
communities, and institutions of similar and
- Theory of Culture Care Diversity and
diverse cultures.
Universality
Culture o Culture care preservation and/or
maintenance, culture care
- Collection of values, beliefs, lifeways, and
accommodation and/or negotiation,
norms.
and culture care repatterning and/or
- Influences a person’s definition of health
restructuring used to provide
and illness.
culturally congruent nursing care.
- Oftentimes connotes a person’s racial or
- Created a new qualitative research method
ethnic background.
called ethnonursing research to
- Nonethnic cultures:
investigate phenomena of interest in TCN.
o Socioeconomic status
- Foundress of TCN.
 Culture of the rich - Established the Transcultural Nursing
 Culture of those who are in Society (TCNS).
poverty - Created the Journal of Transcultural
o Ability or disability Nursing (JTN) and served as founding
 Culture of deaf or blind editor.
people - Established the first master’s and
o Sexual orientation doctoral programs in nursing with a
 LGBTQ and their culture theoretical and research focus in TCN.
o Age
 Culture of teenagers

o Occupation or profession
 Culture of nurses
Subculture
- Groups that have values and norms that are
distinct from those held by the majority
within a wider society.
- Unique shared set of customs, attitudes,
and values, often accompanied by group-
specific language/jargon.
 - Leininger’s contributions to TCN rapidly  Others identified by the client
gained global and interprofessional as significant to his or her
recognition as many healthcare health, well-being, or healing,
professionals learned about her theory. ie: animals or pets as
- TCN has become more relevant today and culturally appropriate.
there has been heightened societal o Multiple health workers from
awareness that people of all cultures different professional backgrounds
deserve to receive nursing and health care working together with patients,
that are culturally congruent and culturally families, caregivers, and
competent. communities to deliver the highest
quality of care (WHO, 2013)
Andrews/ Boyle Transcultural Interprofessional
o Values and ethics related to
Practice (TIP) Model
interprofessional practice,
- To provide a px or client-centered knowledge of the roles of team
systematic, logical, orderly, scientific members, and a team approach to
process for delivering safe, culturally health care are core values needed.
congruent and competent, affordable, - Communication
accessible, evidence-based, and quality o Meaningful exchange of information
care for people from diverse backgrounds between one or more participants.
across the life span. o Organized, patterned system of
- Context from which people’s health-related behavior that makes all nurse-client
values, attitudes, beliefs, and practices interactions possible. It is the
emerge. exchange of messages and the
o Conditions, circumstances, and/or creation of meaning.
situations that exist when and where o May be verbal or nonverbal.
something happens, thereby o Barriers:
providing meaning to what  Different language
transpired.  Technical terms,
o Related to the society where abbreviations, idioms,
individuals are raised in and at how colloquialisms, or regional
the culture affects behavior. expressions
 Indonesia with its  Tone of voice
conservative cultural context.  Language what is
said
 Paralanguage is how
it is said and relates
to all aspects of the
voice that are not part
of the verbal
message.
o Nonverbal communication
- Interprofessional healthcare team
o Client is core  How people convey meaning
without words, facial
o Other members of the team:
expression, gestures,
 Client’s family, significant
posture, proxemics (physical
others, appointed guardian.
distance between the
 Credentialed health
communicators)
professionals.
o Language primary way that culture
 Folk/indigenous/traditional
is transmitted from one generation to
healers
the next.
 Religious/Spiritual healers
o Interpreters should know
interpreting techniques, knowledge
 of medical terminology understands Includes head nodding and
patients’ rights, also knowledgeable short sounds.
about cultural beliefs and health  Adaptors- nonverbal
practices. behavior that either satisfy
 Ask to meet the px first to some physical need. Ex:
establish rapport and obtain scratching or adjusting
basic descriptive information. glasses.
 If no interpreter, use  Represent a
electronic devices with psychological need
translation software. such as biting
o Greetings call a person by his or fingernails when
her title unless permitted to address nervous, yawning
less formally. when bored, or
 Ask the client or team clenching a fist when
member by what name he or hungry.
she prefers to be called, in  Accompany feelings
the initial meeting. of anxiety or hostility.
o Silence sign of respect or sign of o Posture may be open or closed and
agreement. is believed to convey an individuals’
 Eye Contact & Facial degree of confidence, status, or
Expressions In the USA, receptivity to another person.
Canada, Western Europe,  Open posture- interest in
and Australia, eye contact someone and a readiness to
means conveying interest, listen.
active engagement with the  Closed posture- disinterest
other person, forthrightness or discomfort.
and honesty. o Chronemics use of time in
 Avoiding eye contact may be nonverbal communication.
perceived as withholding  Monochronic- US, Northern
information and/or lacking Europe, Israel, and much of
confidence. Australia. Time is highly
 In some parts of Asia, Africa, valued.
the Middle East, and certain  Polychronics- Southern
Native American nations, Europe, Latin America, and
direct eye contact is seen as the Middle East. Time is
disrespectful. In some flexible.
cultures, if prolonged it o Proxemics study of space and how
means that the person doing differences in space can make
the staring has a sexual people feel more relaxed or more
interest in the other person. anxious.
o Gestures  Intimate space
 Emblems- gestures that  Personal space
serve the same function as  Social space
words  Public space
 Illustrators- gestures that  Gender and age factors to be
accompany words to considered, some px prefer
illustrate a verbal message. the same gender when care
 Regulators- convey meaning requires entering his/her
through gestures such as personal space.
raising one’s hand before o Modesty is mixed nonverbal and
verbally asking a question. verbal communication that refers to
reserve or propriety in speech,
 dress, or behavior. Ex: Muslim
women wearing hijab.
 Best for nurses to refrain
from touching clients or
coworkers of either gender
unless necessary and with
permission.
TIP Model
o Technology-assisted
communication
 Smartphones, pagers,
tablets, etc to improve px
outcomes.
 Nurse should identify the
client’s preferred mode of
communication.
o Literature, Art, Music & Dance
 Communicate to the world
the cherished values, beliefs,
history, traditions, and
contributions of people from
nations, tribes, and
population groups.
- Problem-solving process
o Cultural assessment includes self-
assessment and a holistic
assessment of the client.
o Mutual goal setting takes into
account the perspectives of each
member of the health care team.
o Planning care includes input from
and dialogue with members of the
healthcare team.
o Implementation of the care plan
o Evaluation of the care plan
 Is effective in achieving the
intended goal
 Care is culturally congruent
with the patient’s culture and
beliefs.
 Reflects the delivery of
culturally competent care by
nurses and other members of
the team.
 Quality care that is safe,
affordable, and accessible.
 Evidence based practices,
integrates research into care.
 of understanding about each other in order
to facilitate collaboration and cooperation
o Recognizing that there is a large
amount of cultures that exist
o Respecting each other's differences
CULTURAL DIVERSITY o Acknowledging that all cultural
expressions are valid
- The existence of a variety of cultural groups o Valuing what cultures have to bring
within a society. Culture, religion, ethnicity, to the table
language, nationality, sexual orientation, o Empowering diverse groups to
class, gender, age, disability, health contribute
o Celebrating differences, not just
differences, geographic location, and lots of
tolerating them
other things.
- Cultural diversity poses challenges within - Examples of Cultural Diversity:
the healthcare setting, particularly regarding o In A Workplace: Having a
the question of how health professionals multilingual team, having a diverse
can resolve the tension between respecting range of ages working together,
having policies that are vocally
cultural norms or child-rearing practices and against discrimination, etc.
the importance of determining what o In A School Setting: Having
constitutes harm and child maltreatment. students from all over the world
- Cultural diversity is the quality of diverse or (like), being accepting of all religious
different cultures, as opposed to practices and traditions that students
monoculture, the global monoculture, or a partake in, supporting students to
share their cultures with one
homogenization of cultures, akin to cultural another, etc.
evolution. The term cultural diversity can - Espousing diversity in healthcare can lead
also refer to having different cultures to cultural competency, the ability of
respect each other's differences. Moreover, healthcare providers to offer services that
it is often used to mention the variety of meet the unique social, cultural, and
linguistic needs of their patients. In short,
human societies or cultures in a specific
the better a patient is represented and
region, or in the world as a whole. It refers understood, the better they can be treated.
to the inclusion of different cultural
perspectives in an organization or society. - CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION
- Cultural diversity is about appreciating that HELPS TO SUPPORT:
society is made up of many different groups o Deep Learning
with different interests, skills, talents, and  Learning happens within the
needs. It also means that you recognize that curriculum and outside of it.
people in society can have different With a diverse student
religious beliefs and sexual orientations population, students have the
from you. privilege of gaining more
- Cultural diversity is synonymous with understanding about people
multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is and backgrounds from all
defined by, "the view that cultures, races, over. This also contributes to
and ethnicities, particularly those of minority the diversity of thought and
groups, deserve special acknowledgment of perspectives that make
their differences within a dominant political learning more interesting and
culture. dynamic.
- Cultural diversity is important because our o Confidence and Growth
country, workplaces, and schools  When students participate
increasingly consist of various cultural, with people from varied
racial, and ethnic groups. We can learn from cultures, it provides them
one another, but first, we must have a level with more confidence in
 dealing with things outside of population (the total number of
their comfort zones. humans currently living) of the world.
 It can build the strength of o 78 million people is one percent of
character, pride, and the total global population of 7.8
confidence. billion.
o Preparation for The Future o World population projected to reach
 If a workplace has done the 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in
necessary work, it's bound to 2100
be culturally diverse.  US population 2020-
Attending a culturally diverse 331,449,281
institute of education will  China's population 2020-
prepare students for their 1,439,323,776
future in a workplace.  India's population in 2021-
o More Empathy 1,390,000
 Interacting with people who  Philippines population-
have diverse practices, 101,340,780 as of
beliefs, life experiences, and September 17, 2021
culture promotes empathy.
While you can never fully - Race is a category of humankind that
understand someone's life shares certain distinctive physical traits.
without being them, you can o Race is usually associated with
learn, listen, and understand. biology and linked with physical
characteristics, such as hair texture
- South Korea has the best health care or skin color and covers a relatively
systems in the world, that's according to the narrow range of options. Yet people
2021 edition of the CEOWORLD magazine of similar complexions/hair textures
Health Care Index, which ranks 89 countries can be defined as different races,
according to factors that contribute to and definitions in the United States
overall health. have changed over time.
o The quality and efficiency of a o Race as a Social Category
country's healthcare system can  Humans vary remarkably in
have a massive impact on its wealth, exposure to
citizens' quality of life. environmental toxins, and
access to medicine. These
- 10 Most Advanced Countries in Medicine factors can create health
with Best Healthcare in the world (WHO): disparities. Krieger (2000)
o France describes disparities that
o Italy result from racial
o San Marino discrimination as "biological
o Andorra expressions of race
o Malta relations".
o Singapore o African Americans, for example,
o Spain have higher rates of mortality than
o Oman other racial groups for 8 of the top
10 causes of death in the U.S.
o Austria
(Race, Ethnicity, and Genetics
o Japan
Working Group, 2005). Although
these disparities can be explained in
- POPULATION (WORLD) part by social class, they are not
o The current world population is 7.9 reducible to class distinctions.
billion as of September 2021 o Scientific Racism
according to the most recent United  The U.S National Institute of
Nations estimates elaborated by Medicine has noted that
Worldometer. The term "World “historically, studies on race,
Population" refers to the human ethnicity, age, nationality,
religion, and sex have
 sometimes led to o 20 metropolitan areas with the
discriminatory practices” largest number of immigrants in
(Wizemann & Pardue, 2001). 2015
 In the same way that science  Seattle
based on “inherent sex  Sacramento
difference” was used  San Francisco
throughout the eighteenth  San Jose
and nineteenth centuries to  San Diego
justify women’s exclusion  Los Angeles
from science and the  Las Vegas
professions, and to deny  Riverside
women the rights of  Phoenix
citizenship, science based on  Dallas
“inherent racial difference”  Houston
was used to justify the  Chicago
continued subordination of  Detroit
non-white people.  Boston
o Ethnicity  New York City
 Broader term than race.  Philadelphia
Groups of people according  Washington DC
to their cultural expression  Atlanta
and identification.  Orlando
o Race categories  Miami
 American Indian or Alaska o Leading 10 Primary Destinations
Native of Immigrants (2000)
 Asian  Germany received 1, 383,
 Black or African American 580 new migrants into the
 Native Hawaiian or Other country in 2018, by far the
Pacific Islander largest number by any OECD
 White member country. The
number of new migrants
- The Immigrants arriving the country that year
o People living in a country other than was just 438 fewer than in
that of his or her birth. No matter if 2017, but a substantial
that person has taken the citizenship reduction of the more than 2
of the destination country, served in million new migrants who
its military, married a native, or has arrived in the country in
another status – he or she will 2015.
forever be an international migrant.  United States formally
o Social migration moving received 1, 096, 611
somewhere for a better quality of life migrants into the country in
or to be closer to family or friends. 2018, a nearly 3% decrease
o Four types of immigrants from the previous year.
 Citizens  Spain received 559, 998
 Residents migrants in 2018, 23%
 Non-immigrants increase from the number of
 Undocumented immigrants migrants accepted in 2017.
o World’s largest percentage of  Japan 519, 683, 9%
immigrants increase from 2017.
 India has the largest number  South Korea 495, 079, 9%
of migrants living abroad- increase.
17.5 million  United Kingdom 486, 452,
 Mexico 11.8 million 6% decline.
 China 10.7 million  Turkey 466, 890, 28%
increased.
  Chile 339, 350, 64% beliefs, thoughts, and
increase priorities in the health-
 Canada 321, 045, 12% seeking behaviors of different
increase patient populations.
 Italy 285, 500, 5% decrease.
o Push factors are the reasons why - Factors The Nurse Should Consider
people leave an area: When Caring for Culturally Diverse
 Lack of services Groups
 Lack of safety o Awareness
 High crime o Avoid making assumptions
 Crop failure o Learn about other cultures
 Drought o Build trust and rapport
 Flooding o Overcome language barriers
 Poverty o Educate patients about medical
 War practices
o Pull factors are the reasons why o Practice active listening
people move to a particular area: - Identified primary areas of cultural
 Higher employment diversity by ANA
 More wealth o Health insurance and healthcare
 Better services
access
 Good climate
o Racial and ethnic minority
 Safer, less crime
communities
 Political stability
o Mental health
 More fertile land
 Lower risk from natural o Elderly
hazards o Bariatric/obesity
o Migration usually happens as a  Patients in each of these
result of a combination of this push areas can experience
and pull factors. barriers in receiving an
appropriate level of care if
providers do not account for
cultural differences.
 Nurses who are trained to
deliver culturally competent
care are prepared to alleviate
these types of stress.
 Nurses must also understand
how to accommodate
patients' cultural beliefs in
conjunction with conventional
medical practices.
 Acknowledging these types
of patient differences can
decrease the stress of the
- Factors to Consider in the Nursing Care patient, which can positively
of Culturally Diverse Groups impact the outcomes of their
o Understanding the true treatments.
importance of cultural diversity in
Nursing - Culturally Competent Nurses
 Code of Ethics describes the o As the likelihood of working with
values and duties that each patients from different cultural
nurse must fulfill. backgrounds increases, nurses must
o Diversity Awareness be motivated to learn about cultural
 ANA defines it as diversity in their nursing practices to
acknowledgement and reduce risks to patients during
appreciation of the existence treatment.
of differences in attitudes,
 o A National Institute of Health (NIH)
study found that nurses who lack a
firm grasp of cultural differences can
experience stress and frustration
when working with culturally diverse
patients and their families.
o To better prepare for these
situations, nurses follow a cultural
competence model to identify their
own cult' health care beliefs, gain
knowledge and skills about caring
for different cultural groups, and
engage with diverse patients to
practice their skills on an ongoing
basis.
o These actions can reduce risks to
patients by opening lines of
communication, which can reduce
medical errors and make it easier for
providers to identify early indications
of disease, according to a study in
the journal Critical Care Clinics.

- Importance of a Culturally Diverse

Nursing Workforce
o The increasing diversity of the
medical workforce could improve
health outcomes in culturally diverse
patients in two different ways.
o First, when teams of health care
professionals reflect the diversity of
their patients, it is easier for
providers to develop cultural
competency, thus allowing patients
and providers to communicate more
openly, also, patients tend to feel
safer in facilities where they see
diverse teams working together
effectively.
o Increasing the cultural diversity of
the nursing workforce begins in
programs that educate the health
care professionals of the future.
o Earning an advanced degree, such
as a Doctor of Nursing Practice, can
prepare nurses to provide equitable,
inclusive care that promotes a
healthier, less stressful experience
for patients and their families.
 way nurses use terms such
as nursing care, health
promotion, illness, and
disease. Nurses often take
this problem when
communicate to their clients
who is not a health
profession culture

- HEALTH BELIEF SYSTEM

o Generally, theories of health and
disease or illness causation are
based on a group’s prevailing
worldview. These worldviews include
a group’s health related attitudes,
beliefs, and practices.

CULTURAL HEALTH, TRADITIONS, The 3 Major Health Belief Systems or

BELIEFS, AND PRACTICES Worldviews:
- Magico - Religious Health Paradigm
- THE HEALTH TRADITIONS PARADIGM o Is a supernatural force. The disease
o Cultural belief is shared experience is viewed as the action and result of
supernatural forces that cause the
of a social groups of people and
intrusion of a disease-producing
expressed symbolically foreign body or health-damaging
o Metaphor spirit. Throughout the world, five
 Is the most common categories of events are believed to
expression of symbolism. be responsible for illness in the
 People often use metaphor magico-religious paradigm. These
as a way of thinking and categories, derived from the work of
explaining life’s events Clements (1932), are;
through this emerges a  Sorcery
common belief system.  Breach of taboo
 The usually metaphoric  Intrusion of a disease
object,
imagery of magical, religious,
 Intrusion of a disease-
natural/holistic, scientific, or causing spirit
biological form.  Loss of soul.
 The set of metaphoric  One of these belief
explanations used by a group categories, or any
of people to explain life’s combination of them, may
events and offer solutions to be offered to.
life’s mysteries can be
viewed as the group’s o The fate of humans, depends on the
worldview or major paradigm. actions of God or other supernatural
o Paradigm a framework containing forces for good or evil. In some
the basic assumptions, ways of cases, the human individual is at the
mercy of such forces regardless of
thinking and linkages holding
behavior.
together a prevailing interpretation of
o Mal ojo, or the evil eye, common in
reality. The groups reflects total
Latino and other cultures, can be
configuration of beliefs, practices, viewed as the intrusion of a
and permeates every aspect of life. disease-causing spirit.
 Example: symbolism and o Illness is initiated by a supernatural
worldview can be seen in the agent with or without justification, or
 by another person who practices To be healthy, one must be free of
sorcery or engages the services of all disease.
sorcerers. o Specific forms of scientific
o Health is seen as a reward given as paradigm
a sign of God’s blessing and  Determinism which states
goodwill. Illness may be seen as a that a cause-and effect
sign of God’s special favor insofar as relationship exists for all
it gives the affected person the natural phenomena.
opportunity to become resigned to  Mechanism assumes that it
God’s will, or it may be seen as a is possible to control life
sign of God’s possession or as a processes through
punishment. mechanical, genetic, and
o For example: Christian religions, the other engineered
faithful gather communally to pray to interventions.
God to heal those who are ill or to  Reductionism which states
practice healing rituals such as that all life can be reduced or
laying on of hands or anointing the divided into smaller parts;
sick with oil. study of the unique
characteristics of these
- Scientific or Biomedical Health Paradigm isolated parts is thought to
o Life is controlled by a series of reveal aspects or properties
physical and biochemical processes of the whole, for example,
that can be studied and manipulated the human genome and its
by humans. In Western cultures, like component parts.
United States, Canada, Europe, and  Objective materialism
Australia believe on biomedical which states that what is real
model. can be observed and
o Effective treatment consists of measured. There is a further
physical and chemical interventions, distinction between
often without regard to human subjective and objective
relationships. realities in this paradigm.
o Disease is viewed metaphorically as
the breakdown of the human - Holistic Health Paradigm
machine because of wear and tear o Is a force of nature itself must be
(stress), external trauma (injury, kept in natural balance or harmony.
accident), external invasion Human life is only one aspect of
(pathogens), or internal damages nature and a part of the general
(fluid and chemical imbalances, order of the cosmos. Everything in
genetic or other structural changes). the universe has a place and a role
o Disease causes illness, has a more to perform according to natural laws
or less specific cause, and has a that maintain order.
predictable time course and set of o Disturbing these laws creates
treatment requirements. imbalance, chaos, and disease.
o For example, o For example, the cause of
 Microorganisms attack the tuberculosis is clearly defined as the
body, war is waged against invasion of mycobacterium.
the invaders o In the holistic paradigm, whereby
 Money is donated for the disease is the result of multiple
campaign against cancer environment–host interactions,
 Illness is a struggle in which tuberculosis is caused by the
the patient must put up a interrelationship of poverty,
good defense. malnutrition, over-crowding, and
o The Biomedical Model defines mycobacterium.
Health as the absence of disease or o The holistic paradigm has existed for
the signs and symptoms of disease. centuries in many parts of the world,
particularly in American Indian and
 Asian cultures. It is gaining encompassing darkness,
increasing acceptance in the United cold, and emptiness.
States and Canada because it  The Yang force, or male
complements a growing sense that force, is characterized by
the biomedical view fails to account fullness, light, and warmth. It
fully for some diseases as they represents the positive pole.
naturally occur.  An imbalance between yin
o Holistic - defines an attitude or and yang forces creates
mode of perception in which the illness
whole person is viewed in the o Illness is the outward expression
context of the total environment. of disharmony this disharmony may
o Kailo - an Indo-European root word, result from seasonal changes,
means “whole, intact, or uninjured.” emotional imbalances, or any other
o The essence of health and healing is pattern of events. Illness is not
the quality of wholeness we perceived as an intruding agent but
associate with healthy functioning as a natural part of life’s rhythmic
and well-being. course. Going in and out of balance
o People assume various types of is seen as a natural process that
behaviors once they have happens constantly throughout the
recognized a symptom. Health life cycle.
behavior is any activity undertaken o The hot/cold theory of disease this
by a person who believes himself or is founded on the ancient Greek
herself to be healthy for the purpose concept of the four body humors:
of preventing disease or detecting  Yellow bile
disease in an asymptomatic stage.  Black bile
o Illness behavior is any activity  Phlegm
undertaken by a person who feels ill  Blood.
to define the state of his or her o Humors are vital components of the
health and discover a suitable blood found in varying amounts.
remedy o The humors work together to ensure
the optimum nutrition, growth, and
- THE COMMON METAPHOR FOR HEALTH metabolism of the body.
AND ILLNESS IN HOLISTIC PARADIGM  Ecrasia - when the humors
o The diseases of civilization such are balanced in the healthy
as unemployment, racial individual.
discrimination, ghettos, and suicide,  Dyscrasia - when the
are just as much illnesses as are humors are imbalance.
biomedical diseases
o The healing power of nature - HEALTH BELIEF SYSTEM
healthy foods, and Mother Earth, o Magico-religious and Holistic
reflect the connection of humans to  A disease separates from
the cosmos and nature. self, caused by an agent
 The belief system of Florence external to the body but
Nightingale, who emphasized capable of “getting in” and
nursing’s control of the causing damage.
environment so that patients  The causative agent has
could heal naturally, was also been attributed to a variety of
holistic natural and supernatural
o A Chinese concept of Yin and phenomena. Furthermore,
Yang in which the forces of nature many people sometimes
are balanced to produce harmony. adhere to or believe in
 The Yin force in the universe aspects of two or even three
represents the female aspect of the systems at any one
of nature. It is characterized time.
as the negative pole,  For example, a person who is
ill may understand that the
 illness has an identified the treatment recommended by an
causative agent; at the same oncologist is not recommended for
time, the person may pray to the treatment of breast care.
recover quickly and perhaps
embark on a sacred journey - Complementary and Integrative Health
to see a vortex specialist to Approaches
unite body, mind, and spirit o Alternative medical systems are
built on complete systems of theory
- Factors Influence the Course Behaviors and practice. Often these systems
and Practices Carried out to Maintain have evolved apart from and earlier
Health and Prevent Disease than the conventional medical
o One’s beliefs about health and approach used in the United States
illness or Canada.
o Personal factors such as age,  Examples of alternative
education, knowledge, or experience medical systems that have
with a given disease condition developed in Western
o Cues to action, such as cultures include homeopathic
advertisements in the media, the medicine and naturopathic
illness of a relative, or the advice of medicine.
friends.  Examples of systems that
have developed in Eastern
- Healing System cultures include traditional
o Refers to the accumulated sciences, Chinese medicine and
arts, and techniques of restoring and Ayurveda, which originated in
preserving health that are used by India.
any cultural group. o Natural Products include herbs
o For example, a nurse may contact a (also known as botanicals), vitamins,
rabbi to assist a Jewish patient with minerals, and probiotics. They are
spiritual needs, or a curandero may often marketed to the public as
advise a Mexican American patient dietary supplements.
to visit a health care provider for an
antibiotic when traditional practices - The most commonly used mind and
fail to heal a wound. body practices
o Include: deep breathing, meditation,
- Self-care massage, yoga, progressive
o For common minor illnesses, an relaxation, hypnosis, and guided
estimated 70% to 90% of all people imagery. Examples: chiropractic or
initially try self-care with over-the- osteopathic manipulation and
counter medicines, megavitamins, massage therapy; they are used by
herbs, exercise, and/or foods that 8.5% of US adults.
they believe have healing powers.
o When self-treatment is ineffective, - Energy therapies
people are likely to turn to o Involve the use of energy fields in
professional and/or folk (indigenous, two ways:
generic, traditional) healing systems.  Biofield therapies are
o The use of integrative therapies as intended to affect energy
supportive care in patients treated fields that surround and
for breast cancer include penetrate the human body.
acupuncture, massage therapy, and Some forms of energy
biofeedback for the management of therapy manipulate biofields
pain, nausea associated with by applying pressure and/ or
chemotherapy, and other aspects of manipulating the body by
care for people with breast cancer. placing the hands in, or
o An example of an alternative through. Examples include
therapy such as using a special diet qigong, reiki, and touch
to treat cancer instead of undergoing therapeutic.
  Bioelectromagnetic-based o Perceived Severity
therapies involve the  a person's belief about the
unconventional use of seriousness or severity of a
electromagnetic field such as disease.
pulsed fields, magnetic fields,  Severity can be based on
or alternating-current or medical consequences, like
direct-current fields. death or disability, or
- Efficacy of Complementary Health personal beliefs about how
Approaches Research on the condition or disease
complementary health approaches has would affect their life.
focused on main areas  When perceived
o Medicinal plants susceptibility and severity are
o Chiropractic - a system of heightened, people are more
integrative medicine based on the likely to take action.
diagnosis and manipulative o Perceived benefits
treatment of misalignment of the  a person's opinion of the
joints. value or usefulness of a new
o Acupuncture behavior in lowering the risk
o Cell processes and diseases (e.g., of disease. To make a
cancer, asthma) change, people must believe
o The oxidative degradation of lipids that the change will have a
and insulin positive result.
o Influence of exercise and physical  The belief that action will lead
therapies on pain to beneficial results makes a
THE HEALTH BELIEF MODEL person more likely to take
o states that people's beliefs influence action.
 Perceived benefits may be
their health-related actions or
outweighed by perceived
behaviors.
barriers.
o Individuals will likely take action
o Perceived barriers
when experiencing a personal threat
 a person's view of the
or risk, but only if the benefits of
obstacles that stand in the
taking action outweigh the barriers,
way of behavior change.
whether real or perceived.
 Barriers can be tangible or
intangible.
 Tangible barriers
can be a lack of
financial resources,
lack of transportation,
childcare needs, etc.
 Intangible barriers
may be psychological,
like fear of pain,
embarrassment or
- 6 Health Belief Model Concept inconvenience.
o Perceived susceptibility  For a new behavior to be
 a person's belief about their adopted, a person needs to
chances of getting a certain believe the benefits of the
condition new behavior outweigh the
 When people believe they consequences of continuing
are at risk for a disease, they the old behavior.
will be more likely to do o Cues to Action
something to prevent it from  events, people, or things that
happening. trigger people to change
 often not enough to cause behavior. Advice from others,
behavior change. the illness of a family
 member or social media can
provide cues.
 Cues can also be internal,
such as chest pain,
discomfort or fatigue.
o Self-efficacy
 a person's confidence and
belief in ability to take action
or perform a given behavior.
 A person who thinks altering
their behavior is worthwhile
(perceived benefit) but is
unsure of their ability to make
a change is unlikely to
attempt lifestyle changes.
 can be increased with
encouragement, training and
other support.
- The Health Traditions Model
o Rachel Spector
o uses the concept of holistic health
and explores what people do from a
traditional perspective to maintain
health, protect health or prevent
illness and restore health.
o Aspects of health: physical, mental
and spiritual
o A method for describing traditional
culturally based HEALTH beliefs and
practices used to
 Maintain through daily
HEALTH practices, such as
diet, activities, and clothing
 Protect through special
HEALTH practices, such as
food taboos, seasonal
activities, and protective
items worn, carried, or hung
in the home or workplace - Factors influencing traditional beliefs
and/or and practices 
 Restore through special o length of time in a place
HEALTH practices, such as o size of the ethnic or cultural group
diet changes, rest, special with which an individual identifies
clothing or objects, prayer or and interacts
meditation o Age of the individual. As a general
rule, children acculturated more
rapidly than adults or seniors
o ability to speak English and
communicate with members of the
majority culture.
o Economic and education status
o Health status of family members
o Individuals and groups who have
distinguishing ethnic characteristics,
such as skin color, may be more
isolated because of discrimination
 and thus may retain traditional absence of disease or dysfunction. The
values related to health beliefs and main causes of disease and dysfunction are
behavior. usually considered to be identifiable factors,
such as bacteria or viruses, biochemical
imbalances, and aging, and treatments
often involve drugs or surgery. In contrast,
IMH and CAM practices often define health
holistically, that is, as a balance of systems
—physical, emotional, and spiritual—
involving the whole person. Disharmony
among these systems is thought to
contribute to illness. Treatment involves
strengthening the body’s own defenses and
restoring these balances.

ALLOPATHIC AND ALTERNATIVE

- COMPARISON OF ALLOPATHIC AND
MEDICINE
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

- Integrative medicine and health (IMH) and

complementary and alternative medicine
(CAM) include a variety of healing
approaches and therapies that historically
have not been included in conventional
Western medicine. Many aspects of CAM
are rooted in ancient, indigenous systems of
healing, such as those of China, India,
Tibet, Africa, and the Americas.
- Although the distinction between
conventional medicine and IMH or CAM is
not always easy to determine, a basic
philosophical difference exists.
Conventional medicine tends to base its
practices on the best scientific evidence
available. In contrast, CAM tends to base its - Allopathic
practices on evidence-informed practices— o Medicine is the term that is used to
evidence that may not necessarily meet the describe the type of medicine that
highest, strictest criteria for efficacy and most people are familiar with, and
safety. (However, some CAM practices, may also be described as
including use of some dietary supplements, conventional medicine, traditional
have been validated by the traditional high, medicine, or Western medicine. The
strict scientific criteria.) Conventional term is often used to contrast
medicine generally defines health as the common practices with those of
 "alternative" medicine or potent medicines
homeopathy. further cure the
o A system in which medical doctors damage done by the
and other healthcare professionals illness or injury
(such as nurses, pharmacists, and  Modern Method of
therapists) treat symptoms and treatment physicians and
diseases using drugs, radiation, or Nursing professionals study
surgery. Also called biomedicine, the curriculum based on
conventional medicine, mainstream modern medicines, which
medicine, orthodox medicine, and further eases and
Western medicine. encourages modern
o Other names for allopathic medicine medicines in the present
include: conventional medicine. times.
mainstream medicine. Western  It’s the modern
medicine. medicines that
o The term "allopathy" was coined in acclimate into today’s
1810 by Samuel Hahnemann (1755- treatment methods
1843) to designate the usual perfectly well. Each
practice of medicine (allopathy) as medicine in Allopathy
opposed to homeopathy, the system has its significance
of therapy that he founded. and effects on
o Types of Allopathic Medicines different body parts,
 Liquid. The active part of the which doesn’t affect
medicine is combined with a the other bodily
liquid to make it easier to functions.
take or better absorbed.
 Tablet. The active ingredient  Patient Protection is one of
is combined with another the key advantages of
substance and pressed into a Allopathy patients are
round or oval solid shape. protected against any mishap
 Capsules that takes place due to
 Topical medicines improper or flawed drug
 Suppositories administration. In addition,
 Drops consumer rights are
 Inhalers protected by state or federal
 Injections law, according to which
o Advantages of Allopathy Medicine doctors and nurses,
 Assured treatment one of technicians, and practitioners
the most significant must be certified and
advantages of allopathy is licensed to treat patients.
that it’s a guaranteed  Unlike Homeopathy
treatment method followed medicine, an allopath
by practitioners to cure acute must have a certified
and life-threatening document to treat
illnesses/injuries. Modern people. In addition, all
medicine is backed up by the drugs and
advanced technology. treatment methods
 The latest diagnosis must pass the quality
methods and surgical tests before they are
procedures help you administered.
detect a disease in its  Research and Development
early stage, while one of the biggest
 advantages of allopathy is  Partial Treatment modern-
that every medicine day drugs are effective as
manufactured for clinical use long as you take them, which
is prior tested and means they affect a
researched thoroughly for its particular body part and not
efficacy. Companies put a lot the whole body mechanism.
Allopathy treats a part and
of money into preparing the
disease rather than
right compositions for a
eliminating the root cause of
particular disease in rigorous the ailment.
testing and maintaining  Illnesses like
quality standards. epilepsy, HIV, and
 Compliance with state cancer cannot be
or federal law is why completely cured by
every modern modern medicines.
medicine company Since it’s not a holistic
has to prepare the approach to treat
medicines something, the
considering their disease might
efficacy and possible reappear once you
stop taking the drugs.
side effects
 Side Effects are major
 Easily Available modern disadvantages of Allopathy
drugs are manufactured on a patients undergoing current
large scale which means it’s medication for one or many
readily available at any drug diseases have to bear many
store for emergency use. In side effects of a particular
addition, there is a separate drug. For example, a woman
composition formulated to during pregnancy must
give instant relief to the consult a health specialist
patients from fever to joint before taking a simple dose
pains. of Acetaminophen to counter
 Unlike natural its risks.
 A simple composition
remedies and
may also pose
homeopathic
serious health risks to
medicines, modern people who have a
medicines are far chronic illness such
more effective on a as hyperventilation,
disease that work on heart conditions, or
a specific body part. epilepsy. In addition,
For example, a single they must consult
pill of Paracetamol their healthcare
can help you rid fever provider in case they
within 30 minutes of are affected by other
taking it. Also, it's diseases.
available at every  There is a pill for every
problem there is a pill for
pharmacy near you.
every problem, and those
o Disadvantages of Allopathy major
having too many problems
medical organizations support the have to take pills separately
use of modern medicines for for each problem. Missing out
treatment, there are numerous on your daily doses can turn
disadvantages of Allopathy that the problem into bigger
force us to look for alternatives. The trouble.
following are the downsides of
modern medicines
  Since allopathy remedies may be
focuses on different safer than modern
body parts differently medicines.
and temporarily, o Preventative care in allopathic
these medicines do medicine
not work at the root  Vaccinations to prevent
level of disease. serious life-threatening
Although, therefore, a illness in infants, children,
drug brought from a and adults.
pharmacist may  Prophylactic antibiotics to
provide you instant prevent infection after a
relief in case of an surgery, wound, or very deep
emergency; they may cut.
not solve the problem  Prediabetes care to help
permanently, which is prevent diabetes.
among the
concerning - Alternative
disadvantages of o Medicine is defined loosely as a set
allopathy of products, practices, and theories
 Modern Medicines that are believed or perceived by
Suppress the symptoms their users to have the healing
many Cough Syrups act as effects of medicine, but whose
suppressants rather than effectiveness has not been
eradicating the phlegm. In established using scientific methods,
the same way, many drugs or whose theory and practice is not
and medications suggested part of biomedicine or whose
by allopathy do not cure the theories or practices are directly
root cause of the disease. contradicted by scientific evidence or
Such drugs rather suppress scientific principles used in
the effects for some time or biomedicine.
change the way the body o "Biomedicine" or "medicine" is that
functions. part of medical science that applies
 Also, long-term use of principles of biology physiology,
allopathic drugs might molecular biology, biophysics, and
result in some chronic other natural sciences to clinical
hidden side-effects, practice using scientific methods to
which might turn out establish the effectiveness of that
to be more life- practice. Unlike medicine, an
threatening. alternative product or practice does
 Incorrect Diagnosis may be not originate from using scientific
fatal a misdiagnosed disease methods, but may instead be based
can turn fatal for patients as on hearsay, religion tradition,
the doctors may prescribe a superstition, belief in supernatural
whole different formula to energies, pseudoscience, errors in
treat the ailment. Moreover, reasoning, propaganda, fraud, or
most of the time, doctors other unscientific sources.
have a hectic schedule and
numerous patients to attend. - The growing interest in the use of
 There is also a Complementary Medicine (CM) may be
chance of getting ascribed to a number of factors:
misdiagnosed and o The recognition of the potential
getting the wrong benefits of these therapies.
treatment or wrong o Limitation and side effects of
allopathic medicines. orthodox, treatment approach.
On the other hand, o An increasing expectation for a more
taking natural holistic approach to providing care
 o Quality of life issue to use trials or make it deliberately
o Improving control in the treatment hard to do so
process
o Client’s expectation of better
communication with practitioners
o Adoption of particular healing
systems compatible with specific
cultural backgrounds

- Perceived Mechanism of Effect anything

classified as alternative medicine by
definition does not have a healing or
medical effect. However, there are different
mechanisms through which it can be
perceived to "work". The common o Acceptance and Use as many as
denominator of these mechanisms is that 38% of adults and 12% of children
effects are misattributed to the alternative have used CAM at some point,
treatment. depending on how broadly CAM is
defined. A National Health Interview
- How alternative therapies "work"? survey (2012) indicates that
o Misinterpreted natural course – commonly used CAM therapies
the individual gets better without include:
treatment.  Deep breathing exercises
o Placebo effect or false treatment (11%)
effect – an individual receives  Yoga, tai chi, and qi gong
"alternative therapy" and is (10%)
convinced it will help. The conviction  Manipulative therapy (8%)
makes them more likely to get  Meditation (8%)
better.  Yoga (6.1%)
o Nocebo effect – an individual is o Use of other CAM therapies and
convinced that standard treatment approaches remains low:
will not work, and that alternative homeopathy (2.2%), naturopathy
therapies will work. This decreases (0.4%), and energy healing (0.5%).
the likelihood standard treatment will In addition, 17.7% of adults used at
work, while the placebo effect of the least one dietary supplement.
"alternative" remains
o No adverse effects – Standard
treatment is replaced with o Effectiveness many CAM therapies
"alternative" treatment, getting rid of are said to have been practiced for
adverse effects, but also of hundreds or thousands of years.
improvement. Having a long history of use is
o Interference – Standard treatment sometimes used as support that
is "complemented" with something CAM therapies are effective.
that interferes with its effect. This However, there are limitations with
can both cause worse effect, but this argument:
also decreased (or even increased)  Being used for a long time is
side effects, which may be not scientifically equivalent to
interpreted as "helping". proven effect. Some
o Researchers, such as therapies subsequently found
epidemiologists, clinical statisticians to be ineffective or harmful
and pharmacologists, use clinical were previously used for
trials to reveal such effects, allowing many years.
physicians to offer a therapeutic  The length of time a therapy
solution best known to work. has been in use is difficult to
"Alternative treatments" often refuse establish.
  How a therapy was used in than carefully regulated
the past may differ from how drugs
it is used now, as may the o Perhaps the greatest risk of
therapy itself complementary and alternative
o Thus, scientific evidence, using well- medicine (CAM) occurs when a
designed studies, is still preferred to person with a life-threatening
determine whether a therapy is disorder is treated with an unproven
effective. CAM therapy instead of a proven
o However, well-designed studies of conventional medicine therapy
CAM therapies can be difficult to do. o Some general risks include the
Barriers to doing research on CAM following:
therapies include the following:  Some substances in CAM
 Lack of support and financial preparations may interact
resources for CAM among dangerously with each other
medical researchers or with prescription drugs.
 Limited training and skill to  Highly purified dietary
perform scientific research supplements are readily
among advocates of CAM available in the United States
 Looser regulations requiring and many countries in
proof that CAM products or Europe, but products
therapies are effective before produced in other countries
they are made publicly may contain dangerous
available compared with contaminants, toxic
regulations governing ingredients, or other drugs.
conventional medicine  Harm can be done by CAM
treatments therapies that involve
 Generally lower financial manipulation of the body or
returns for companies other nonchemical
studying CAM than for those interventions (for example,
doing drug or device manipulation that injures
research vulnerable parts of the body)
o Safety regarding the risk of CAM
therapies themselves, some are - Components of integrative healing
clearly safe and even safer than therapies
conventional medicine practices. o Integrative medicine and health
o One key example is using (IMH) and complementary and
meditation, acupuncture, and alternative medicine (CAM) include a
manual manipulation for pain variety of healing approaches and
management before or instead of therapies that historically have not
opioid drugs. been included in conventional
o Other examples of safe practices Western medicine.
include acupuncture to treat nausea, o Many aspects of CAM are rooted in
yoga to improve balance, or ginger ancient, indigenous systems of
tea to aid digestion. healing, such as those of China,
o Others may conceivably be harmful. India, Tibet, Africa, and the
 For example, because Americas.
medicinal herbs and o Complementary, alternative, and
other dietary integrative medicine are terms often
supplements (which are used interchangeably, but their
used in many alternative meanings are different.
therapies) are not o Complementary medicine refers to
regulated as drugs by the non-conventional practices used
Food and Drug together with conventional
Administration (FDA), (mainstream) medicine.
their safety is less certain
 o Alternative medicine refers to non-  They usually attend an
conventional practices used instead accredited four-year,
of conventional medicine. graduate-level school.
o Integrative medicine is health care  They study basic sciences
that uses all appropriate therapeutic similar to those studied in
approaches—conventional and non- conventional medical school.
conventional—within a framework  They also study nutrition
that focuses on health, the psychology, and
therapeutic relationship, and the complementary therapies
whole person. such as herbal medicine and
homeopathy.
- Related Therapies  Some states and territories
o Naturopathy medicine is a system require naturopathic doctors
that uses natural remedies to help to become licensed. That
the body heal itself. It embraces means they have to pass an
many therapies, including herbs, exam to practice and take
massage, acupuncture, exercise, continuing education classes.
and nutritional counselling o Traditional naturopaths: These
o Naturopathy was brought to the practitioners don’t attend an
United States from Germany in the accredited naturopathic medical
1800s, but some of its treatments school or receive a license. Their
are centuries old. Today, it combines education varies widely.
traditional treatments with some o Healthcare providers: Some
aspects of modern science. medical doctors, dentists, doctors of
o The goal of naturopathic medicine is osteopathy, chiropractors, and
to treat the whole person -- that nurses have training in naturopathic
means mind, body, and spirit. It also medicine. Many are either NDs or
aims to heal the root causes of an they studied naturopathy
illness -- not just stop the symptoms. o Homeopathy is a medical system
o A naturopathic doctor may spend 1 based on the belief that the body
to 2 hours examining you. They’ll can cure itself? Those who practice
ask questions about your health it use tiny amounts of natural
history, stress levels, and lifestyle substances, like plants and minerals.
habits. They may order lab tests. They believe these stimulate the
o It may be an option for people who healing process.
might not find relief for their chronic  It was developed in the late
illness through traditional medicine. 1700s in Germany. It’s
o In some cases, you can use both common in many European
conventional and naturopathic countries, but it’s not quite as
medicine to treat an illness. popular in the United States
 For example, naturopathic  How Does It Work? A basic
remedies may help ease the belief behind homeopathy is
side effects of chemotherapy. “like cures like.” In other
Patient must the doctor about words, something that brings
any naturopathic treatments. on symptoms in a healthy
And, to inform the person can -- in a very small
naturopathic doctor about dose -- treat an illness with
your conventional similar symptoms. This is
medications. That way, both meant to trigger the body’s
providers can work as a team natural defenses.
for your health.  For example, red
o Naturopathic physicians: onion makes your
 They are also called eyes water. That’s
naturopathic doctors (ND) or why it’s used in
doctors of naturopathic homeopathic
medicine (NMD). remedies for allergies.
 Treatments for other an alternative for vaccines,
ailments are made but there’s no research to
from poison ivy, white prove they’re effective.
arsenic, crushed o Ayurveda a natural system of
whole bees, and an medicine, originated in India more
herb called arnica than 3,000 years ago. The term
 Homeopathic doctors (who Ayurveda is derived from the
also are called Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda
“homeopaths”) weaken these (science or knowledge).
ingredients by adding water  Thus, Ayurveda translates to
or alcohol. Then they shake knowledge of life. Based on
the mixture as part of a the I dea that disease is due
process called to an imbalance or stress in a
“potentization.” They believe person's consciousness,
this step transfers the healing Ayurveda encourages certain
essence. Homeopaths also lifestyle interventions and
believe that the lower the natural therapies to regain a
dose, the more powerful the balance between the body,
medicine. In fact, many of mind, spirit, and the
these remedies no longer environment.
contain any molecules of the  Ayurveda (/ˌɑːjʊərˈveɪdə, -
original substance. They ˈviː-/) is an alternative
come in a variety of forms, medicine system with
like sugar pellets, liquid historical roots in the Indian
drops, creams, gels, and subcontinent. The theory and
tablets. practice of Ayurveda is
 Indications it’s used for a pseudoscientific.
wide variety of health issues,  The Indian Medical
including some chronic Association describes
illnesses: Ayurvedic practitioners who
 Allergies claim to practice medicine as
 Migraines quacks.
 Depression  Ayurveda is heavily practiced
 Chronic fatigue in India and Nepal, where
syndrome around 80% of the population
 Rheumatoid arthritis report using it.
 Irritable bowel  Uses to maintain health,
syndrome reduce stress, and improve
 Premenstrual flexibility, strength, and
syndrome stamina. Practices like yoga
and meditation can be helpful
 It can also be used for
for people with diseases such
minor issues like
as asthma, high blood
bruises, scrapes,
pressure, and arthritis.
toothaches,
 Ayurvedic Practitioner:
headaches, nausea,
Professionals with full clinical
coughs, and colds
training in disease pathology,
as seen through the
 Contraindications don’t use
Ayurvedic model. They also
homeopathic medicine for
practice prevention and
life-threatening illnesses, like
health promotion through the
asthma, cancer, and heart
focus on diet and lifestyle
disease, or in emergencies.
- Nursing Implication nurses have a unique
You should also avoid using
opportunity to provide services that facilitate
it in place of vaccines. Some
wholeness. They need to understand all
homeopathic products called
aspects of CAM, including costs, patient
“nosodes” are marketed as
 knowledge, and drug interactions, if they are practice. However, nurses must
to promote holistic strategies for patients keep in mind the legal implications of
seeking to achieve a higher quality of life adding CAM therapies to their
- Implications for practice as the future role existing practice, to ensure they
of nurses develops towards more clinical continue to practice within the legal
nurse specialists, nurses may wish to boundaries of their license.
expand their skills base, adding some of
these complementary therapies. Those - Create patient-centered health care
considering such a move need to have policies and procedures regarding CAM
regard for the NMC (2002) Code of therapies:
Professional Conduct, which states that o Update policies that address
they should undergo recognized and assessment of all patients' health
validated training, with proof of completing care practices, including CAM
the course. therapies.
o They should also ensure that there o Develop standards of care that
is research evidence that the address the updated model of
therapy is of benefit to the clients. patient assessment; identify patient
And they will need to ensure they teaching techniques regarding CAM
have gained permission to use the therapies.
therapy from their employer, o Set standards regarding
manager, patients and/or relatives. documentation of CAM therapies in
- Assessment nurses need to assess the patient's medical record
patients for interactions and different side
effects when a patient is using integrative - Assure staff competency regarding CAM
therapies. therapies and integrative medicine by:
- Not only do nurses need to assess the o Assessing nursing staff knowledge
medication effects but they also need to of CAM therapies.
evaluate for patient outcomes. o Providing staff in-services and
- Important aspects to think about when training about CAM therapies,
undergoing the nursing process with patient assessment of CAM therapy
alternative therapy practices. usage, documentation of CAM
o Is the alternative therapy helping the information, and awareness of
patient? potential CAM risks.
o How does the patient perceive the o Regularly evaluating staff knowledge
therapy? and practice regarding CAM
o Is this therapy safe? therapies and patient care.

- Educator “It’s important to help patients get - The Necessity for Curriculum Revision
information from reliable sources and to Nurses can be the missing link between the
know if a suggested alternative treatment, conventional medicine and CAM. The
such as herbal supplements, may interfere nursing community should develop its role
with the medications they are currently in CAM and be a reliable source for patients
prescribed or may be detrimental to their who use CAM or are willing to use it.
health Nursing curricula have constantly been
o As nurses, we can be informed evolved to improve patient care and keep
about CAM and help consumers to pace with the ever-changing health care
make smart decisions to system. The integration of CAM therapies in
complement or give alternatives to the nursing curriculum is no exception.
routine therapeutic approaches. Our o Nurses should play an active role in
biggest concerns are safety. the development of evidence-based
o CAM is still unregulated and not performance in the field of CAM
guaranteed to work. Nurse as through research.
practitioner. Nurses may choose to o By introducing CAM in nursing
study CAM practices, become curriculum, nurses can educate and
proficient in their use, and integrate change attitudes and practices, and
their use into an existing nursing
provide comprehensive and effective
care and treatment for patients