Developing an integrated baccalaureate nursing education program: Infusing complementary/alternative therapies into critical care curricula

Education of students within the holistic perspective of nursing should take place in an integrated curriculum that deliberately includes complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) content. A curricular model from the University of Minnesota School of Nursing outlining core CAT competencies and nursing-specific subcompetencies are presented as one planned method for integrating CAT content throughout a nursing curriculum, including an undergraduate critical care course. Suggestions for managing common patient symptoms in the critical care setting with selected CAT interventions and the importance of safely and effectively incorporating CAT into one's practice, including appropriate patient referral, are outlined. The significance of novice nurses learning life-long self-care practices as part of the curriculum is addressed.