CONSTITUENCY REPORTS: August 7, 2004 – December 31, 2004
Speaking out for Health: Speaking out for Nursing

Submitted by: Darka Neill
Chapter/ Region without Chapter/ Interest Group: Complementary Therapies Nurses
POLICY & POLITICAL ACTIVITY
No activity at this time.

MEDIA ACTIVITIES
An article about Therapeutic Touch in palliative care was submitted in the Halton Peel Palliative Care Initiatives.  Fall Newsletter were written by the CTNIG executive editor.
An article in the August RN Journal entitled "East Meets West" about Complementary Therapies in nursing, referenced several CTNIG members.

CTNIG member interviewed on CITY TV news program related to postpartum depression.
MEMBER SERVICES/ RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
September and December Newsletters sent out to members which included a summary of events that CTNIG members were involved in, upcoming events/conferences, research and members views.
CTNIG AGM in September featured presentations on "Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction", "Movement in Meditation" and "Healing Drumming" led by CTNIG members.
Numerous media articles related to Complementary Therapies (CT) sent out to members.
Support given to Belleville Liaison in developing guidelines for local members participation in various CT related initiatives.

STUDENT REPRESENTATION/INVOLVEMENT WITHIN INTEREST GROUP
CTNIG members participated in a panel presentation on "CT in Nursing" and provided CT to Ryerson Nursing students during the Ryerson Nursing Students Union's Relaxation Week. CT offered were Therapeutic Touch, Reflexology and Shamanic Drumming. The organizer of the event said that after hearing the panel presentation provided by CTNIG members who are CT practitioners, it was very clear to her how much more valuable it is to hear from people who are involved in the field. 
Liaisoned with MacMaster Nursing Students rep to facilitate a Reiki practitioner at a breakfast meeting, where other CT practitioners were representing their practices.
CTNIG member conducted a presentation on "Complementary Therapies and the Nursing Role" to practical nursing students at Sheridan College.

OTHER
CTNIG and a variety of CT were a big hit again this year at the Hospice Association of Ontario 15th Annual Conference held at the Nottawasaga Inn. Four hundred delegates from all over the province attended. One hundred and twenty of those present received a CT treatment from 16 CT practitioners over the course of two days.

Four CTNIG members conducted a panel presentation at the NPAO Conference called "Integrating CT into Practice and for Self Care".  This was an information session that provided a forum to present some of their personal experiences in Complementary Therapies to Nurse Practitioners.
A workshop on the value of "Therapeutic Touch in Labour and Birth" at the Therapeutic Touch Network of Ontario¹s annual conference was presented by CTNIG member. 

CTNIG member presented as part of a panel in the RNAO¹s November Recruitment and Retention Fair, speaking about "Self-Care and Creative Ways to Manage Stress". 
CTNIG member (Shamanic Practitioner) was invited to spend time with students at York University in a course called A LIVED PRACTICE IN NURSING: THE INTEGRATION OF COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES IN PRACTICE. She presented "Shamanism: A Worldview, Approaches To Health And Healing" and offered those present an experience of the sound and healing of an inspirited drum.
Also presented at the Association For Comprehensive Energy Psychology Conference "In Celebration of the Sacred: The Sound and Healing of an Inspirited Drum".

Several CTNIG members attended the First Annual Complementary and Alternative Health Care and Paediatrics Forum funded by the Sick Kids Foundation in December.
CTNIG members responded to request for assistance of anyone with experience in postpartum depression and CT area that might be willing to help in Best Practice Guidelines for Postpartum Depression.
There is a growing interest in CT research and integrating CT into nursing education.