https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIHNCCIH/bulletins/2385cbc
The link above will take you to a lecture and Q & A we should all listen to (you may have to copy and paste). The lecture, by Dr. Alan Leshner, was shared with the National Institute of Complementary and Integrative Health (NICIH) scientists.
Nurses are scientists, we should not and cannot deny that fact. We learn our craft from evidence-based research and theory. If we are to enter integrative nursing we need to learn how to talk to the public about it. This lecture will give you practical ideas how to do just that.
Nurses are educators for our patients and each other and should practice and test how well we can explain to a lay person what the newest research finds for integrative health modalities. Also, non-scientists ask the best and most practical questions! When we speak to each other there is the idea that we know the “inside” information, this does not hone our skills to speak to patients about our craft.
Dr. Alan Leshner tells us one excellent technique is storytelling. We are GREAT at this, sit in any healthcare break room and you will agree đŸ™‚ So, it shouldn’t be a stretch to bring our experience stories to our patients, we just modify what we already share with each other!
Remember also that integrative health is not only about evidence-based research but is also about evidence-informed research. What does that mean? It means there is research that is inconclusive but does no harm. We can still recommend and refer our patients to providers of integrative health knowing that the therapies they practice will do no harm. Is that true for every integrative modality you will recommend? Yes, because you will only recommend modalities that have evidence-based or informed therapies. Are there dangerous modalities out there? Yes, watch out for “providers” selling the amazing results of a product or procedure and DO NOT have ANY research to prove efficacy or safety, patients should be told to BEWARE. Colon cleansing/detox is a good example and I dare you to find any National Institutes of Health (NIH), NICIH support, or any research at all outside of the company making the product. We nurse scientists know that our body has detox systems, they are the kidneys and liver!
So, the bottom line, listen to the lecture and start spreading the word about integrative nursing, medicine, and health. Remember, nurses are all leaders from the bedside to the boardroom and we are change agents.
Peace and blessings, Kim
The Integrative Nurse 