Incorporation of an integrative health focus into nurse practitioner program curriculum

Trends in health care such as increasing chronic illness care and the focus on safe, quality, relationship based care, support an integrative health approach in nurse practitioner (NP) practice. NPs are seeing increasing numbers of patients that are using or requesting complimentary health practices such as acupuncture or botanicals. Ignoring patient practices and demands is unsafe. Therefore, the need for NPs to develop and practice an integrative approach to patient care is significant and should occur during the NP educational program. Integrative health (IH) is more than complimentary practices and practitioners. IH honors the innate ability of the body to heal, values the relationship between patient and health care provider, and integrates complementary medicine when appropriate to facilitating healing. Integrative health refocuses care on health and healing and respects patients as whole persons who actively participate in their own care of health. Philosophies and practices from around the world are interwoven to build this foundation for integrative health. Understanding this need, the University of Portland Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)/Family Nurse Practitioner program developed an IH component throughout the curriculum. These include five IH courses, DNP program competencies, NP management course outcomes, clinical assignments, program-wide case presentations and opportunities for IH clinical placements. The effectiveness of the IH component being part of the graduates' practice is being evaluated through post-graduate surveys. This presentation will provide an overview of the strategies used and challenges encountered to incorporate and reinforce an IH perspective into NP curriculum.