INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE INTO PRIMARY CARE PRACTICE
United States of America 
1 slide(s) – English – 2010-10-23
Background: Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is used by millions of people to supplement Western medicine practices or in some cultures, substitute for Western medicine. It is imperative that pediatric nurses be knowledgeable concerning health beliefs and practices of the populations they serve and be sensitive to the benefits and interactions of these health practices. The Asian population continues to grow and immigrants often maintain health beliefs and illness management strategies from their culture.
Purpose: Rarely do APRN students have an opportunity to participate in an educational program on traditional health care in the country of origin. This unique educational experience between Yale University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University offered graduate nursing students a comprehensive didactic and skills laboratory experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Description: Students compared theories of health and well-being, disease and illness, between Chinese and Western societies, identifying how TCM is currently integrated into health care in China and could be used in the United States. They had the opportunity to develop beginning skills in traditional Chinese assessment and treatment modalities. Students visited diagnostic skills centers, integrative health clinics, and herbal dispensaries. Students were fascinated by the complexity and relevance of the ancient Chinese philosophy of health and illness and were able to identify ways of integrating this new knowledge into practice.
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