State boards of nursing and scope of practice of registered nurses performing complementary therapies

This article provides a report of State Boards of Nursing (BONs) policies on the use of complementary therapies by registered nurses. This investigation was conducted for the White House Commission on Complementary Alternative Medicine Policy. The target sample for this report was fifty-three BONs in the United States. Forty-seven percent of the BONs had taken positions that permitted nurses to practice a range of complementary therapies; thirteen percent were in the process of discussing this matter; and forty percent, although they had not formally addressed the topic, did not necessarily discourage these practices. The results of this study can be used to encourage more discussion among the BONs and within states about nurses practice of complementary therapies. Nurses are encouraged to become aware of their state s position regarding complementary therapy and to facilitate the integration of complementary therapies into their work environment.