Complementary therapies are used to complement conventional health care
practices. They include a wide range of treatment modalities such as herbal
therapies and manual healing, (reflexology, acupuncture, etc.) The therapies
are not discipline-specific, and the knowledge required to provide them is not
specific to nursing. The College of Nurses of Ontario Practice guideline
addresses the responsibility any nurse who practices complementary therapies.
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Reference
Oncology Nursing
Society. (2001). Understanding the Perceived Need for Complenentary and
Alternative Nutraceuticals: Lifestyle Issues. Clinical Journal of Oncology
Nursing, 5 (5), 190-194.
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Many cancer patients are participating in the use of complementary therapies.
Scientific evidence for many of these complementary therapies is sparse, and
they are recognized as having the potential to be toxic. Nurses are continually
challenged to understand the efficacy, toxicity, and dose of herbs, vitamins,
enzymes and mineral supplements taken by their patients. Concerns are raised by
nurses that these unregulated therapies may interact with the conventional
cancer treatments of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
For a copy of the CNO Complementary Therapies Practice Standard click :
www.cno.org
For more information on Complementary Therapies click on the link below:
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