Massage Therapy Journal - Spring 2004 - Kaleidoscope

New York Hospital Receive’s Grant for Holistic Nurse Training

Evidence that holistic approaches to health care are being embraced by the medical community continues to mount. The New York State Department of Health and Department of Labor conjointly awarded a $600,000 grant to the New York College of Health Professions to fund a holistic nurse training program at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City.

The grant will be used toward five days of intensive training for registered nurses at Bellevue on the principles of holistic nursing theory, therapeutic massage, nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine modalities.

So far, the program is a success. For the past year, the program was in a test phase at Bellevue. According to Director of Holistic Nursing Joanne Christophers of New York College, more than half of the participants want to continue studying holistic health care after they complete the program. “Since all nurses see their patients from a holistic perspective, they are always looking for new ways to treat their patients physically, as well as emotionally and spiritually,” She says. The nurses learn basic amma massage, an Asian bodywork, and how this—coupled with simple changes in a patient’s lifestyle—can make a great difference in his or her response to illness and contribute to the healing process.

New York College is a leader in holistic medicine, and currently offers graduate-level degree programs in areas like massage therapy. Although the grant is specifically for the Bellevue Hospital Center, the college plans to train nurses at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City as well, eventually branching out to more and more hospitals.Photo Caption: New York College of Health Professions Director of Holistic Nursing Joanne Christophers (right) teaches a Bellevue Hospital nurse amma massage techniques.