ACUPRESSURE


 


Literature review


 


Acupressure is acupuncture without needles. Acupressure is a therapeutic technique of applying digital pressure in a specified way on designated points on the body to relieve pain, produce analgesia, or regulate a body function (2004). Pressure applied to the traditional acupuncture points with the thumbs, tip of the index finger, or palm of the hand or pinching and squeezing as means of applying pressure stimulate the nerves and close the gate or trigger the release of the body’s natural endorphins ( 1998).


            The gate theory, among the most readily accepted, integrated the specific and pattern theories and proposed that an anatomic gate modulates the pain experience. Simply stated, the peripheral nerve fibers carrying pain impulses to the spinal cord can have their input modified at the spinal cord before the impulses are transmitted to the brain. Stated another way, the gate theory suggests that pain impulses that travel up the spinal cord can be blocked before reaching the brain by a mechanism that acts like a gate closing. This latter theory helps explain why such interventions as acupressure relieve certain types of pain ( 1998).


            The interest in alternative therapies like acupuncture has increased significantly in the past 15 years ( 2004). The majority of people using and seeking information about complementary and alternative therapies are well educated and have a strong desire to actively participate in the decision making about their health care.


            This increased interest comes not only from health care consumers, but also from allopathic physicians who have increasing concerns that current Western medicine is not meeting the needs of their clients ( 2004). The role of the nurse in here is that many nurses already practice the use of touch and this is very essential in alternative and complementary therapies like acupressure.


            While medical literature reflects an interest in the use of complementary therapies, there is a paucity of studies in the nursing literature addressing the use of therapies by nurses, either on themselves or on their clients. While the utilization rate of complementary therapies by the general population has been estimated to be as high as 45%, and nurses are interacting with clients who use these therapies on a daily basis, little is known about nurses’ attitudes, knowledge, or perceived efficacy of the therapies (1999).


Many complementary therapies have limited scientific research support resulting in little data about rationale for use, action, effects, and side effects. Since some therapies may be unsubstantiated by science, nurses must be alert to the increasing use of these therapies and include questions about them as a routine part of the assessment interview.


Nurses need to assess the client’s use of therapies, including why the therapies are used, the source of the therapy, as well as the client’s knowledge of side effects. Nurses must be aware of the positive and negative effects that complementary therapies have, as well as any interactions with traditional medical treatments. This knowledge base will aid the nurse in assisting the client with appropriate health decisions (1999).


 


Acupressure applied to my Nursing Philosophy


 


            While health care literature reflects an interest in the use of complementary therapies, there are a limited number of studies in the nursing literature addressing the use of therapies by nurses for self-care or use with clients. If significantly more health care providers are using some form of complementary therapy, it is imperative that nurses have a knowledge base of a variety of therapies in order to assist clients with decision making related to the therapies.


Alternative therapies like acupressure can be used by nurses for treatment of clients. Many complementary therapies like acupressure contain diagnostic and therapeutic methods specific to the field, whereas others are easily learned and applied.


            Alternative therapies base interventions on conventional pathophysiology, anatomy, and kinesiology but at the same time, they also explore mind-body connections that may cause or contribute to the physiological condition. Some alternative therapies are not supported by scientific data and therefore must be regarded by the nurses with caution. This could relate to my nursing philosophy that nursing is a profession dedicated to the promotion of health and prevention of illness. Caution is needed because nurses should only do what is best for their clients.


            Nurses should be knowledgeable of alternative and complementary therapies in order to make appropriate recommendations to allopathic primary and health care providers about which therapies are most useful for specific clients.


            As nurses, there is a need to work very closely with their clients and are in the unique position of becoming familiar with the client’s religious and cultural viewpoints. As pointed out in my nursing philosophy, being from a different cultural background I am aware how it may affect the delivery of my nursing care. Therefore there is the need to be familiar and understand other values, cultures and beliefs.


It is inevitable that clients will be of different cultures. I am aware of the importance to individualize my nursing care to the person and their specific needs and culture. Nursing provides care in a nonjudgmental manner; it’s about being a patient advocate. As an effective patient advocate, a nurse should view the person as whole: physically, spiritually, and emotionally.


Nurses may be able to determine which therapies and if acupressure would be more appropriately aligned with the clients beliefs and offer recommendations accordingly. This way, we nurses can provide better care to our clients.


            In conclusion, alternative and complementary therapies like acupressure require commitment and regular involvement by the client and the nurse alike in order to be most effective and have prolonged beneficial outcomes. These kind of therapies should be appropriately chosen according to a client’s functional status; culture, belief or religious perspectives; access to health care; and insurance coverage.


 


 


 


           



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