My name is Deb V. I am the newly appointed treasurer of NANMT. I am a psychiatric/mental health RN and have wor ked in the field since 1978. I became a massage therapist in 6/03. I have worked as a massage therapist at a chiropractor's office since 10/03 providing pain- and stress-relief massage. In addition, I provide massage out of a local salon. I love being a nurse massage therapist. NANMT is an organization that I've enjoyed being a part of.
My name is Ethlyne Davidson. I have been in nursing since 1976, and I was intitially licensed as a massage therapist in Ohio in 1995. I currently reside in Lynchburg, VA. My personal experience with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities have led me to be a strong proponent of Alternative, Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Recent challenges with breast cancer have strengthened my committment to integrative care and I feel nurse massage therapists have great potential for serving as members of cancer treatment teams all across the country, whether the given center fully embraces an integrative model or not. I further feel we must Step Up as leaders in educating the public and our fellow healthcare providers in the necessity of whole person caring. To this end, I feel that we first must all define for ourselves what a nurse-massage therapist is - how is our practice different from a non-nurse massage therapist? What are we bringing to the table that other MT's don't? I feel that often nurses who begin offering massage do so with the intent of simplifying their lives - of leaving all the rigors and restraints behind for the touchy-feely world of bodywork. For me it has not been that simple. As I unpack my stored records and forms and review my files ( preparing to return to practice after treatment for cancer), I am struck at how much they reflect the nursing process at work. I chose to call myself a nurse massage therapist, which to me means that I provide bodywork, education and support to persons requiring intervention for stress or pain, and guidance to those who request assistance in becoming healthier or with dealing with chronic illness. What does it mean to you? What do your records reflect? What standards do you hold yourself up to? I would love to hear others' thoughts on this. Please share!
