By Kohen Zain
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a combination of traditional medical treatments and a wide range of products and treatments considered non-traditional or alternative medicine. Such treatments include acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractic medicine, aromatherapy, mindfulness, homeopathy, and supplements. Nurses use CAM therapies together with conventional medical treatments, to provide patients with comprehensive or integrative care approaches. Using CAM allows nurses to approach patient care holistically and give the patient more control over their own treatment, as well as provide less expensive alternatives.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that is often used with traditional treatments to help with reducing pain and promoting faster healing. Nurses can use acupuncture in patient care to help alleviate pain, nausea, and anxiety, among other symptoms. Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate natural healing processes.
Nurses can incorporate acupuncture into their patients’ treatment plans as an additional therapy by coordinating with licensed acupuncturists for a holistic approach to care. These healthcare professionals can also educate their patients about the benefits and risks of these forms of alternative treatment before they decide. Nurses are able to document the effectiveness of acupuncture and provide feedback to the rest of the medical team.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy promotes balance in the body using natural therapies like massage, herbal medicine, and nutrition. This alternative treatment focuses on using natural remedies to promote healing and prevent disease. Nurses play an important role in educating their patients about the effectiveness of certain naturopathic treatments, as some may not have scientific backing. It is imperative that nurses give the patient the full picture when they are debating whether to incorporate naturopathy into their treatment plan.
Nurses can collaborate with naturopathic doctors and other medical providers to give integrated care that includes naturopathic remedies along with conventional medical treatments. Nursing staff can recommend natural remedies such as supplements, herbal medicines, and lifestyle modifications to support a patient’s overall health and well-being. This includes educating patients about the principles of naturopathy, including the importance of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction. A nurse’s role in CAM involving naturopathy also includes documenting patients’ use of naturopathic remedies and monitoring for any interactions or side effects related to those treatments.
Chiropractic medicine
Chiropractic medicine involves the manual manipulation of the spinal column to improve joint mobility and posture. This CAM approach focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those of the spine.
Nurses can collaborate with chiropractors to provide integrated care that includes chiropractic treatments along with conventional medical treatments. Their role also involves educating patients about the potential benefits and risks of chiropractic treatments and answering any questions they may have. When the patient and nurse agree on including chiropractic medicine in the treatment plan, the nurse can refer patients to licensed chiropractors who specialize in treating conditions such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, and joint pain. Monitoring the patients’ responses to these treatments and providing feedback to the medical team can help with understanding how this type of alternative medicine is beneficial to patient care.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a CAM that uses essential oils derived from plants to promote health and well-being. Nurses can collaborate with therapists to provide integrated care that includes aromatherapy along with conventional medical treatments. They can also administer essential oils using inhalation, topical application, or oral consumption under the guidance of a licensed aroma therapist. These essential oils help alleviate symptoms such as anxiety, pain, nausea, and insomnia.
Nurses are positioned to educate patients on the proper use of essential oils and help them select oils that are safe and appropriate for their individual needs. They can also document the patients’ reactions to these treatments and monitor them closely for adverse effects or reactions with other medications. Education is also essential for nurses who want to increase their knowledge or for those who wish to pursue nursing as a second career. Getting an ABSN online with an accredited school such as Elmhurst University provides the opportunity for career growth through an accelerated nursing degree.
Mindfulness practices
Mindfulness practices include meditation, yoga, Qi Gong, and other practices that focus on improving mental and emotional well-being. It involves intentionally paying attention to the present moment with a non-judgmental attitude. Nursing staff can teach patients mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or guided imagery to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Nurses can integrate mindfulness practices into patient care plans by encouraging patients to engage in them. These practices are especially helpful during hospitalizations or medical procedures to alleviate pain, discomfort, and anxiety. Nurses can model mindfulness practices for patients to demonstrate self-care and promote emotional well-being. By incorporating mindfulness into patient care, nurses can help patients cultivate a greater sense of calm, presence, and overall health and well-being.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy involves a holistic approach that treats the whole person using diluted natural remedies to address specific complaints. It is a complementary healthcare system based on the concept that “like cures like,” which means that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can be used in diluted form to treat similar symptoms in a sick person.
Nurses can use homeopathy in patient care by collaborating with licensed homeopaths to provide integrated care that includes homeopathic remedies along with conventional medical treatments. They can also recommend homeopathic remedies such as plant extracts, animal extracts, or minerals to patients who are open to using natural remedies to treat their conditions.
It is also important for nurses to evaluate patient response to homeopathic remedies and document any changes in symptoms or well-being, as well as educate patients on the principles and practice of homeopathy and answer any questions they may have.
Nurses should educate themselves on the safety and appropriateness of each individual modality they consider. Overall, nurses can play a role in promoting patient-centered, integrative care that includes homeopathy, but care must be taken to ensure that treatments are appropriate, safe, and evidence-based.
Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements include herbal supplements, vitamins, and minerals that are often used to promote wellness. They are intended to supplement the diet and contain vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, or probiotics. Nurses can use nutritional supplements to develop individualized nutrition plans for patients once they have evaluated their needs. They can also recommend these supplements to patients who have vitamin deficiencies or related issues.
Nurses can also educate patients about the benefits and risks of supplements and answer any questions, as well as monitor the patients’ responses to these supplements and make any changes necessary. When nurses recommend supplements as an option, their role is also to ensure that the medications the patient is on are not at risk of creating a negative interaction. The FDA does not regulate supplements, so it is very important for the nursing staff to be educated on the benefits and risks, as well as consult with a trained practitioner so they can offer treatment that is safe and effective.
Complementary healthcare is often used alongside conventional medicine in managing chronic pain, stress, anxiety, and mental health problems and improving overall well-being. Nurses can use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in combination with traditional treatments to provide patients with comprehensive medical care. Nurses can integrate CAM into their patient care practices through open communication.
Communication
Nurses must communicate with patients to determine the specific types of CAM therapies, as some natural approaches can interact with conventional treatments. Effective communication is essential when integrating CAM into patient care practices. It fosters improved patient outcomes and coordinated care increases patient satisfaction and safety, improves the experience, and provides opportunities for continuous learning.
Improved patient outcomes: Communication promotes collaboration among healthcare team members, leading to the provision of comprehensive care for patients that aligns with their healthcare needs, improving overall patient outcomes.
Coordinated care: Communication helps the healthcare team coordinate efforts, share information, and stay informed about the patient’s progress, improving care and reducing errors.
Increased patient satisfaction: Open and transparent communication between providers and patients enhances patient trust and confidence in treatment protocols, increasing patient satisfaction.
Comprehensive care: Effective communication allows the integration of CAM therapies into conventional medical care, promoting a more comprehensive approach to care, and addressing patients’ bodies, minds, and spirits to achieve optimal outcomes.
Improved patient safety: Communicating with patients about CAM approaches can reduce the risk of adverse events or potential drug interactions with standard care, improving safety.
Improved patient experience: Communication fosters positive patient-provider relationships that can reduce anxiety and stress and support patients’ participation in their care team.
Continued learning: Effective communication can improve clinicians’ and nurses’ understanding of CAM therapies, facilitating cross-disciplinary learning and the incorporation of CAM principles in future healthcare strategies.
Effective communication among healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers can improve the integration of CAM therapies into patient care and promote useful collaboration between conventional and CAM medicine, improving patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction. Moreover, it can foster continued learning about effective practice and improve care for patients holistically.
Benefits of CAM
Integrating CAM into patient care practices involves having a thorough knowledge of the available therapies and the role they play in patient care. These benefits include efficient patient evaluation, quality of care, improved safety, enhanced collaboration, improved communication, improved health outcomes, and a holistic approach to care.
Efficient patient evaluation
Knowledge about CAM strongly influences patient evaluation and assists the healthcare team in defining specific patient care approaches that accommodate CAM interventions.
Quality of care
Healthcare providers with extensive knowledge of CAM can effectively integrate CAM therapies into standard medical care, providing comprehensive care for patients and improving the quality of care.
Improved Safety
Having sufficient information about CAM therapies and their potential effects allows healthcare providers to identify potential adverse events and drug interactions that may occur while also taking precautions for patient safety.
Enhanced Collaboration
Knowledge of CAM therapies enables healthcare providers to collaborate efficiently and effectively, take shared responsibility for patient care, and optimize patient outcomes.
Improved communication
Knowledge of CAM enhances communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding the CAM therapies in use, answering questions that patients might have and building confidence and trust.
Improved Health Outcomes
Knowledge of CAM provides healthcare providers with the tools to blend CAM and standard medical care to tailor the best possible care for the patient to manage their conditions and achieve improved health outcomes.
Holistic Care
With comprehensive knowledge of CAM therapies, healthcare providers can supplement conventional medical care to address the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being, providing a holistic approach.
Incorporating knowledge about CAM into patient care practices helps provide effective, safe, and comprehensive care. It improves outcome quality, promotes patient satisfaction, and enhances team relationships among healthcare providers. Gaining knowledge is vital when integrating CAM modalities to ensure that practices are safe, evidence-based, and ethical. By seeking knowledge about CAM therapy, nurses can understand how to assess, plan, and intervene in integrative care cases.
Collaboration is important when introducing CAM therapy and treatments, as the plan can require the input of interdisciplinary teams. Nurses can collaborate with naturopathic or integrative medicine practitioners to bring CAM into standard medical care safely.
Incorporating CAM therapies into existing patient care guidelines can enhance care delivery. By including CAM therapy recommendations and ensuring that safety protocols are in place during treatment, nurses can optimize outcomes for patients. Nurses should educate patients about the potential benefits and drawbacks of CAM to produce informed decisions about integrative care. This includes discussing the risks or side effects of combining CAM with traditional medicine regimens.
Nurses can advocate CAM by taking part in research studies, communicating positive clinical outcomes associated with integrative medicine therapies, and advocating for policy and regulation changes that will allow patients access to CAM therapies that can be beneficial. They can also integrate CAM into their patient care practice through communication, learning, collaboration with other practitioners, adapting practice guidelines, educating patients, and advocating for integrative care options. By including CAM therapies in care delivery, nurses can provide comprehensive, patient-centered care that considers patients’ desired outcomes and preferences for healthcare management.
Nurses integrating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their patient care practices can provide several benefits for patients, including the following:
Improved patient outcomes
By combining conventional therapies with CAM practices, patients can have an integrated approach to care that provides comprehensive treatment options, leading to improved outcomes and a better quality of life. The collaboration between the medical team and the patient also helps to make the patient feel independent in their treatment which can go a long way towards them following a specific course and improving their results.
Greater patient satisfaction
Patients who receive personalized care that includes CAM therapies are often more satisfied with their treatment than those who receive only conventional medical care. These patients benefit from the less intrusive, gentler approach of alternative medicine.
Reduced side effects
CAM therapies are often natural and non-invasive, reducing the risk of adverse side effects commonly associated with conventional medical treatments. When prescribed properly and researched for any adverse reactions with traditional medication, alternative therapies can provide relief with a fraction of the side effects normally associated with medication.
Patient autonomy
By integrating CAM therapies into patient care, nurses help patients take control of their health by providing options and strategies to complement conventional treatments. The options provided by complementary and alternative medicine let the patient dictate their own path of treatment, and that confidence and autonomy can help boost their outcome physically and emotionally.
A holistic approach to care
CAM therapies allow a holistic approach to care, treating not only physical symptoms but also patients’ emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being that can impact overall health outcomes. Alternative medicine can speak to the patients’ spiritual side and help them mentally. The mental health of a patient is crucial to the success of any treatment plan.
Improved health promotion
CAM therapies such as yoga, meditation, and massage can help patients develop healthy self-care practices and habits, reducing the risk of chronic medical conditions. These therapies are great as preventative choices for those patients who are on the cusp of developing chronic illnesses.
Reduced healthcare costs
CAM therapies can often provide effective and affordable treatments for chronic conditions, and with inclusion in care plans like Medicare, patients may access treatments that could be expensive without coverage. The stress from the costs of medications can also affect patients’ recovery, so CAM can help with reducing costs and promoting a faster recovery time.
Integrating CAM therapies into patient care has several benefits that can improve patient satisfaction, outcomes, autonomy, and lower healthcare costs. It is important that nurses approach CAM integrations safely, ensuring that treatments comply with nursing practice standards to ensure the provision of holistic and effective care to patients. When used appropriately, CAM provides a holistic approach to patient care that is effective and safe.
