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Should nurses practice therapeutic touch? Should nursing schools teach therapeutic touch?
Summary
Therapeutic touch in nursing should be viewed as a religious practice due to its spiritual origins. This perspective necessitates new approaches to its teaching and application in healthcare settings.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Practice
- Religious Studies
- Complementary Therapies
Background:
- Therapeutic touch is a widely used complementary therapy in nursing.
- Its origins and underlying principles are often debated.
- Understanding its roots is crucial for effective and ethical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate therapeutic touch within the context of nursing practice.
- To explore the religious and spiritual underpinnings of therapeutic touch.
- To advocate for a paradigm shift in how therapeutic touch is understood and taught.
Main Methods:
- Historical analysis of therapeutic touch origins.
- Examination of religious texts and teachings.
- Comparative study with established religious practices.
Main Results:
- Therapeutic touch shares significant conceptual and historical links with religious practices.
- Its core tenets align with spiritual healing traditions.
- Existing nursing frameworks may not adequately address its religious dimensions.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic touch should be recognized and addressed as a religious practice within nursing.
- This recognition requires a revision of current educational and clinical approaches.
- Integrating a religious perspective can enhance the ethical and practical implementation of therapeutic touch.