Wiekamp Hall
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Is conventional medicine the answer? Or is there another direction? What is the connection between the mind and body? Many health-care consumers are looking beyond conventional medicine and examining complementary therapies to augment traditional treatment.
However, today’s health-care providers are not well informed about these alternative methods, according to Cynthia Sofhauser, a nursing professor at IU South Bend.
To address the growing need for more information on alternative treatment, the IU South Bend School of Nursing is offering a minor in complementary health. The minor was approved by the curriculum committee in March 2002. According to Sofhauser, who is the coordinator, the IU South Bend complementary health minor is a first of its kind.
Mary Jo Regan-Kubinski, dean of nursing and health professions at IU South Bend, said the program is a great asset for the School of Nursing. “It is a great step to offer the minor. It is an exciting addition. With Cyndi’s work, the minor respects the tradition of the many different therapies. As health-care professionals, IU South Bend graduates can truly evaluate the different therapies.”
The minor requires a completion of 15 credit hours. Students must take two required courses for a total of six credit hours and a one-credit hour capstone course. The two required courses are “The Art and Science of Complementary Health” and “Integrative Health Care.” The electives include classes on herbs, trans-cultural health care, women’s health and palliative care, among others.
“Students achieving a minor in complementary health will gain a thorough understanding of several therapies,” Sofhauser said. Students will be introduced to non-mainstream, health-care therapies such as healing touch, guided imagery, hypnosis, acupuncture and other health services.
Students will become acquainted with the blending of complementary health care and Western medicine. “Nursing students understand and can guide a patient who may be in search of complementary care,” Sofhauser said. After completing the minor, nurses have a better understanding of complementary therapies and can guide patients.
Often older patients are inquisitive about help for a chronic illness. Complementary medicine may be the answer, but many doctors are reluctant to explore such methods with their patients. Patients become disillusioned when conventional medicine does not meet their needs.
“Physicians and most health-care providers, for that matter, are uninformed. The minor educates health-care providers with complementary techniques,” Sofhauser said.
Sofhauser became interested in complementary health while working on her doctorate in Texas. Her fascination continued with further research. “Western culture has a lot of catching up to do with the cultures of Native Americans, India and Asia,” she said.
The School of Nursing has received an incredible response from students regarding the complementary health curricula. “They believe it should be required. It is challenging and enlightening. We have received calls from all over the country,” Sofhauser said.
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