Naturopathic Nursing Programs Begin in Canada and the U.S.

by Peter Barry Chowka

Starting in September, Centennial College and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), both of them in Toronto, will offer registered nurses (RNs) a one-year part-time naturopathic nursing certificate program -- the first of its kind in Canada.

"The Centennial-CCNM post-diploma program in naturopathic nursing will enhance the excellent qualifications of community college nursing graduates,'' commented David Schleich, President of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. "Centennial-CCNM nursing graduates. . .will play an important role in the transformation of primary health care.''

"People are seeking alternative medicine as a means to prevent disease, and this is opening up an exciting world of opportunity,'' said Centennial President Dr. Catherine Henderson. "As our nursing graduates become more involved in health promotion and teaching patients to care for themselves, post-diploma specializations such as naturopathic nursing make sense. Because graduates of this program will be educated in the fundamentals of naturopathic nursing, they will be better able to advise clients from a holistic perspective.''

According to Statistics Canada, at least 3.3 million Canadians paid more than $1 billion in 1995 for chiropractic, naturopathic, Chinese medicine, and other complementary alternative therapies not covered by health plans.

Naturopathic nursing is a specialization that will focus on the body's natural ability to heal. The program will include courses such as: fundamentals of applied nutrition; lifestyle management; an overview of complementary therapies; counselling techniques in complementary medicine; an introduction to homeopathy and botanical medicine.

Naturopathic nurses in Canada will practice in such health care settings as the increasingly popular multidisciplinary (integrated medicine) clinics, medical doctors' offices, naturopathic physicians' offices, and as independent nurse-entrepreneurs.

In Washington state, meanwhile Bastyr University's Continuing Education Department announced on July 15 that it had received continuing education approval from the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) for three self-study programs focusing on the clinical applications of herbal medicine. These continuing education credits may also be applied toward pharmacology requirements for nurses.

According to recent changes in Washington's Law Relating to Nursing Care, nurses can work for and with naturopaths, who under Washington law are primary care physicians. As a result of this change, nurses have a new realm of treatments and remedies which they can administer per naturopathic order. According to state law, nurses are required to develop and maintain competencies in the modalities they are using. Bastyr University reported receiving hundreds of inquiries from nurses who are seeking education in natural medicine modalities.

---

Click to return to previous page

Click to return to TCM Main page