Complementary Therapies (CT) are becoming a part of health care for more people. More nurses are using CT in their practice. Nurses in the growing field of CT can benefit from sharing their experiences with one another and developing common strategies.

The RNAO by fulfilling its mandate of "speaking out for health, speaking out for nursing", is supporting, acting as a resource for and raising the profile of nurses who practice Complementary Therapies.

To have Complementary Therapies (CT) recognized, incorporated and integrated into nursing and health care in Ontario.

Mission

Recognizing that nursing involves a holistic approach whereby all persons are an integrated mindbodyspirit entity, the Complementary Therapies Nurses' Interest Group (CTNIG) promotes the practice of CT as part of nursing practice. The CTNIG does this through support, recognition, networking, research, and political action as well as education opportunities related to CT for nurses and the public.

Goals

• Provide vision, support, direction, and leadership for the advancement of CT in nursing practice, education, research, administration and political arenas.
• Honour the advancement of CT in nursing practice, education, research, administration and political arenas.
• Interact with consumers, health care professionals and related health care organizations and health care systems for the advancement of CT.
• Influence the Ontario and Canadian health care systems through political action to integrate CT as part of quality, comprehensive health care.
• Support nurses to engage in self-care practices.
• Promote quality of work life for nurses through integration of CT in the workplace.

Values and Beliefs

1) Autonomy

• All persons are an integrated mindbodyspirit entity.
• All persons have the capacity and right to make living, learning and health choices that honour their mindbodyspirit unity.

2) Individual Worth/Respect

• All persons' perspective of their experiences and the meanings, patterns and quality of life are unique and respected.

3) Advocacy

We advocate for

• Access to complementary therapies for all persons to promote quality health care;
• Integration of conventional health care and complementary therapies in order to promote quality health care;
• Nurses to be valued in their role of providing complementary therapies as part of quality health care;

4) Partnerships and Alliances

• Affiliations with consumer, nursing and other health care groups are imperative to facilitate communication and high quality health care.