Nurs Forum. 1999 Jul-Sep; 34(3): 14-23.

Nurse practitioners' role in complementary and alternative medicine: active or passive?

Cattell E.

University of California, Los Angeles, School of Nursing, USA. [email protected]

Complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies are emerging as a significant force that is shaping the delivery of health care in the United States. The physician-scientists of conventional medicine are slowly easing into the process of evaluating and integrating CAM therapies. After all factors are considered, should the role of NPs in this process be active or passive? This article explores reasons why NPs should or should not take an active role in evaluating and integrating CAM therapies. It proposes a role that NPs could have in determining the influence of complementary and alternative medicine on their clinical practice.