Integrative Care - Practices

Question 1

Whole medical systems

Answer 1

Healing systems and beliefs evolved over time from different cultures and parts of the world

Ayurvedic medicine, latin American practices, indigenous healing practices, traditional Chinese medicines (ex: cupping)

Question 2

Biologically based approaches (natural health products)

Answer 2

Uses things found in nature

Vitamins and minerals, botanicals/plants (ex: cannabis for medical use), traditional medicines (ex: herbal remedies), amino acids, essential fatty acids, etc

Question 3

Nutrition as Medicine

Answer 3

Gerson therapy, macrobiotic & mediterranean diet

Question 4

Manipulative and body based approaches

Answer 4

Working with one or more parts of the body

Acupressure, massage therapy, chiropractic medicine, simple touch

Question 5

Mind-body interventions

Answer 5

Helps relax body and mind

Aromatherapy, art therapy, dance therapy, yoga, meditation, psychotherapy, music therapy, imagery, breath work

Question 6

Energy medicine

Answer 6

Goal is to balance energy flow in the patient. Based on belief that vital energy flows through the body

Reiki (Japanese technique involving transfer of energy through practitioners hand to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and facilitate healing), Qigong (Chinese exercise and meditation focusing on balancing body’s vital energy through movement, breath, and mindfulness)

Question 7

Nursing-accessible approaches

Answer 7

• can be learned with minimal preparation
• teach patients how they can change their behaviour to alter their physical responses to stress and relieve symptoms
• includes: imagery (guided imagery), meditation and breathing, relaxation technique

Question 8

Nutrition

Answer 8

• relationship of nutrition and its role in preventing disease
• relationship between nutrition and cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease often directly linked to lifestyle and nutritional choices
• botanicals/natural health products

Question 9

Botanicals/natural health products

Answer 9

• health canada regulates all OTC natural health products and monitors botanicals for safety, effectiveness and quality
• botanicals should be examined for interaction with other prescribed or non prescribed substances

Question 10

Educating patients about safe NHPs

Answer 10

• buy from reputable manufacturers
• be wary of secret formulas and cures
• labelled correctly (purpose, dosage, route of administration, warnings of adverse reactions, drug identification number indicating health canada reviewed formulation)
• health canada advised Canadians to use only health products that carry DIN, DIN-HM, or NPN on the label

Question 11

Botanicals/NPHs

Answer 11

• avoid mega doses (even vitamins can be toxic)
• NHPs used for weight lose, body building, diabetes, sleep problems can be dangerous when mixed with other prescription or non prescription drugs
• internet purchases may increase risk of unsafe products
• expensive products may be of inferior quality

Question 12

CNO complementary therapies practices information

Answer 12

• deciding whether or not to use a complementary therapy
• identifying the issue
• Nurse’s 3 responsibilities: appropriateness of therapy, knowledge, skill, and judgement, awareness of and ability to address possible outcomes