Alternative Nursing Careers: Integrative Medicine and What You Can Do

Call it what you will..holistic, complimentary, alternative or integrative, nurses are playing an ever expanding role in this emerging practice to promote good health. Integrative Medicine provides the best of both worlds by combining conventional medicine with complimentary therapies like acupuncture, message therapy, energy healing, nutrition, herbal medicine and much more.

The holistic approach to health promotion is the essence of nursing but nurses who choose to specialize in alternative therapies address areas of the patient's wellbeing, including physical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. In addition to Western medicine, they may use a variety of complementary health practices. Holistic or Complementary Health Nurse is one title you may see out there but the following is a list of alternative medicine disciplines that many nurses with specialized training practice in Integrative Medicine:

Ayuveda
Reiki
Message Therapy
Aromatherapy
Homeopathy
Hypnosis
Yoga
Meditation
Nutrition
Herbal Medicine
Craniosacral Therapy
Guided Imagry
Lymphatic Drainage Message
Tai Chi

The list goes on..need I say more…



Educational Requirements:

Varies. Holistic nursing certification is available from the American Holistic Nurses Association. Training, certification, and/or licensing may be needed for various complementary health practices, and requirements vary depending on what state or country.

Employers:

Healthcare facilities, clinics, holistic health and wellness centers, spas, health clubs, private practice, pain management centers, doctors' offices or you could be an independent contractor…wouldn’t that be interesting?

Associations:

American Holistic Nurses Association

Canadian Holistic Nurses Association

Association for Integrative Health Care Practitioners

Education, Continuing Ed, info and Employment Opportunities:

National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine http://nccam.nih.gov/

Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine http://www.ahc.umn.edu/cahcim/members/home.html

The Open Directory Project. This site lists approved courses and schools: http://www.dmoz.org/Health/Alternative/Holistic_and_Integrated_Medicine/Courses_and_Schools/

Online Education Classes in Integrative Medicine
http://www.healthandhealingny.org/professionals/nurse.html