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Offering an online course: complementary and alternative therapies in nursing practice
Nancy L Stephenson1, Sylvia T Brown, Dorothea Handron
1ECU School of Nursing, Health Sciences Building, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. stephensonn@ecu.edu
Holistic Nursing Practice
|November 6, 2007
Summary
A new graduate-level course addresses the growing use of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT). It equips master's and doctoral students with essential knowledge and practical insights into diverse CAT fields.
Area of Science:
- Health Sciences
- Medical Education
Background:
- Complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) are widely used by 30-80% of adults in industrialized nations.
- Existing graduate programs often lack comprehensive coverage of CAT.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a graduate-level course on complementary and alternative therapies.
- To provide master's and doctoral students with foundational knowledge in CAT.
Main Methods:
- Curriculum development for a graduate-level course.
- Inclusion of diverse CAT topics.
- Assignment requiring students to interview a CAT practitioner.
Main Results:
- A structured graduate course curriculum was created.
- The course caters to both master's and doctoral students.
- Student engagement through practitioner interviews was incorporated.
Conclusions:
- The developed course meets the educational needs for graduate students interested in CAT.
- This initiative enhances academic understanding and practical exposure to complementary and alternative therapies.
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