Integrative practices and nursing empowerment

Abstract

Theoretical and reflective study based on a critical reading of the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices (in Portuguese, PNPIC) in the Brazilian Unified Health System (in Portuguese, SUS) and on the need for discussing nursing education in this perspective. The objective was to analyze the possibility of nursing empowerment and the proposal of inserting integrative practices in nursing care. An exploratory and systematic research in books and documents in electronic format was carried out, using descriptors in health sciences, at the Virtual Health Library (BVS). Twenty-eight relevant and unabridged studies published in the last ten years were used. The studies demonstrated nurses were unfamiliar with the legislation and lacked specific training and that such limitations hinder professional performance in the area. The inclusion in undergraduate courses of theoretical and practical courses on alternative therapies is necessary. Graduate nurses should seek postgraduate training in the area.