In a hospital where complementary therapies are supported by policy, what must be true for the nurse to provide Reiki?

In a hospital where complementary therapies are supported by policy, what must be true for the nurse to provide Reiki?

• A. The nurse is certified, and the patient requests Reiki.
• B. The nurse must be certified, but patient request is not necessary.
• C. The nurse needs hospital administrator approval before practice.
• D. Reiki is never permitted in hospital settings.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that patient autonomy and practitioner competence must guide the use of complementary therapies within a supporting policy. For a nurse to provide Reiki, two things must be in place: the nurse is certified in Reiki, and the patient explicitly requests it. Certification demonstrates that the nurse has had training to perform Reiki safely and competently, while the patient’s request ensures informed consent and alignment with the patient’s preferences. Without the patient’s request, offering Reiki could bypass consent; without certification, safety and competence are not assured. Administrative approval for each session isn’t typically required once a policy supports the therapy, and claiming Reiki is never permitted contradicts the policy.

The key idea is that patient autonomy and practitioner competence must guide the use of complementary therapies within a supporting policy. For a nurse to provide Reiki, two things must be in place: the nurse is certified in Reiki, and the patient explicitly requests it. Certification demonstrates that the nurse has had training to perform Reiki safely and competently, while the patient’s request ensures informed consent and alignment with the patient’s preferences. Without the patient’s request, offering Reiki could bypass consent; without certification, safety and competence are not assured. Administrative approval for each session isn’t typically required once a policy supports the therapy, and claiming Reiki is never permitted contradicts the policy.