The Relationship Between Prior Experience and Attitude Toward Energy medicine in Nursing Students and Faculty
Graduation Date
1-2008
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Nursing
Department or Program Chair
Barbara Ganley, PhD
Thesis Advisor
Colleen Kemp, RN, MSN
Abstract
Background: Nurses are recognized by the Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) as being in a unique position to bridge the gap between conventional and complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies. The BRN also charges nurses with the responsibility to supply clients with information necessary to make informed health decisions, including information on CAM therapies.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to show that even though a majority of nurses have a positive attitude toward energy medicine, unless they have experience with it, they feel inadequate to recommend it to clients or judge the effects it may have on them.
Method: This descriptive, quantitative study was based on surveys distributed to senior nursing students in class and faculty via their in-house mailboxes at the University of San Francisco.
Results: While the majority of respondents view energy medicine as beneficial and would advocate for its use, those with experience in energetic healing modalities are more likely to feel that their knowledge base is adequate both to recommend its use and understand the effects it may have on clients who use it. Also, the majority of respondents do not feel that energy medicine is included in nursing school curriculum.
Conclusion: Experience with energetic healing modalities in nursing school will assist nurses to follow the advice given by the BRN to be an advocate for and educator of clients who have incorporated energy medicine into their health care regime 01 who are contemplating its use.