Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Nursing and Midwifery

This book explores the historical, social, political and cultural facets of integration between complementary and alternative medicine and nursing/midwifery. It examines the ever-expanding integration in relation to:
the role and conceptualization of the patient
the role and responsibilities of different professional healthcare providers (nurses, midwives, alternative therapists, etc)
the future provision and approach of nursing and midwifery practice
the challenges and opportunities currently facing healthcare systems as a result of integration.
This innovative book provides the first critical overview of this important field of health research. It is important reading for medical sociologists, nurses and other health professionals - as well as students in these areas - with an interest in complementary and alternative medicine.

Jon Adams is Senior Lecturer at the School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Australia. Philip Tovey is Reader in Health Sociology, School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, UK.

Introduction. Part 1: The Evolution of CAM in Nursing and Midwifery 1. CAM and Nursing: Changing Boundaries 2. CAM and Contemporary Nursing Theory and Practice Part 2: CAM Nursing/Midwifery in Intra-Professional Context 3. Grass-Roots CAM Nursing/Midwifery: Life Process and Professional Action 4. CAM and the Meaning of Nursing Care 5. Nurses in Alternative Health Care: Processes of Boundary Re-Configuration Part 3: Inter-Professional Issues in CAM Nursing/Midwifery 6. CAM, Wellness Nursing and the 'New Public Health' 7. Integration in Inter-Professional Context: CAM Nursing as 'Middle Ground' 8. The Common Bond between CAM and Nursing: Claiming Autonomy from the Medical Profession. Postscript