Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine Concepts into the NP Curriculum: Inevitable or Optional?

Background: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is highly popular and widely used in conjunction with conventional medicine.  However, more than two-thirds of people using CAM do not discuss their use of CAM with their providers and nurse practitioners (NP) do not ask and fail to document their use. NPs’ lack of knowledge and insensitivity to dual users may contribute to patients’ non-disclosure.  NPs may be ill-prepared to properly care for patients using CAM due to inadequate instruction on CAM concepts during their training.  How and to what extent the CAM concepts are incorporated into the NP curriculum is not known. 

Objectives: The aim of this presentation is to decribe various ways in which Complementary and Alternative Medicine concepts can be infused into the NP curriculum including (1). conceptual models for studying the use of CAM; (2). CAM competencies that NPs should achieve upon completion of their curricuium. (3). Fundamental theoretical underpinnings of CAM modalities, (4). Examples of CAM modalities for women’s health.   Practical exemplar approaches to successful infusion of CAM such as CAM Camp or Pharm-CAM into NP curriculum will be discussed.    

Solution: NPs must possess a better knowledge and understanding of CAM; critically evaluate possible gaps in their prescribing habits and referral pattern and acknowledge the growing trend of CAM therapies and start to incorporate more open discussion into the patient-provider relationship.  Inclusion of CAM concepts into NP Curriculum, thus preparing NPs in CAM competencies is inevitable if they are to be truly patient-centered health care providers of the future.