The number of nurses studying Complementary and Alternative Modalities or CAM is growing. The American Holistic Nurses Association says its membership has more than doubled in the past four years, and it is not the only alternative medicine professional group that has popped up recently. There are several reasons for this trend and we’ll look at each in detail.
A Greater Level of Care
Alternative medicine seeks to treat the patient holistically, treating their emotional state in addition to the particular condition or ailment they suffer from. Waukesha Memorial’s Regional Cancer Center’s director says it has added alternative therapies like hand massage, healing oils, music therapy and guided imagery. These solutions reduce the stress and pain for patients without requiring additional medication and often at a lower cost than conventional therapies. Other facilities, especially those treating cancer patients, are offering acupuncture, meditation, tai chi, aromatherapy, healing touch and other alternative treatments to treat symptoms like nausea and pain.
Shifting Patient Preferences
Because of the rise of alternative medicine as a first choice for ever more patients, many medical facilities are adding complementary and alternative medicine options in order to keep these patients happy when receiving medical treatment and attract those whose first choice would be alternative medicine.
Greater Acceptance of Holistic Care by the Medical Profession
Just as more patients accept or even demand holistic care, likewise there are many more medical professionals who respect or even practice holistic medicine. Research has shown the benefits of alternative medicine has given alternative medicine legitimacy it did not have in the 1960s, leading to medical professionals being more willing to make referrals to alternative healthcare professionals or learn more about the field. For example, a study in Critical Care Medicine in 2007 found that listening to music while connected to a respirator reduced stress hormones and thus improved recovery rates.
Other studies found that osteopathy reduced back pain more effectively than medication, while massage reduces stress so much that it is now covered by many health insurers.
This is how the American Holistic Nurses Certification Corporation came into being, providing national credentialing for holistic nursing and industry-wide standards to what could be seen as the Wild West of medicine. It gives nurses credentialed by the organization the title “holistic nurse-certified” or HNC. Those earning a bachelor of science in nursing – whether an online nursing degree from Rutgers Online or traditional program – are eligible for earning the HNC certification.
In the UK, osteopathy and chiropractic medicine have grown such that they have rigorous training programs, professional associations, professional standards of conduct and industry best practices.
Demand for holistic medicines is growing due to demographic shifts, increasing general acceptance and studies that show it is effective for a wide range of patients. Many patients seek out modern medical facilities that offer holistic medical treatment because it treats the whole person, often with less medication and greater concern for comfort. The holistic and complementary medicine field has grown so large due to patient demand that it is becoming a standardized industry with formal certification and professional associations.