Integrative nursing in the Brazilian northeast: introduction, potential, and challenges

to describe the introduction, potential, and challenges experienced by nurses in the provision of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices in the northeast f Brazil.

A qualitative study conducted from June to December 2022 with 15 northeastern nurses qualified in Integrative and Complementary Practices. The data were produced through individual online interviews and submitted to content analysis.

15 nurses participated, and 23 integrative practices were cited, with a predominance of auriculotherapy, greater introduction in primary care and private nursing offices, highlighting labor and personal benefits. Their potential includes technical qualification for the practice and interest in continuing education. The hospital-centric view of professionals, the low diffusion on the theme in teaching, as well as the difficulty in pricing procedures and in developing clinical reasoning in other medical rationalities were cited as the main challenges.

Despite the challenges still faced, northeastern nurses are offering integrative practices to complement user care.