Nursing and the Role of Animals

Chapter 14: Nursing and the Role of Animals

Overview:

• A history of human and animal interaction is provided
• Explains definitions and scientific research of animal therapy
• Varying human responses are described
• Lists and guides through precautions of this therapy

Description:

This chapter introduces a complementary therapy which is not as yet well represented in the nursing literature. A comprehensive review of relevant literature is presented as in recent years researchers have begun to investigate what this relationship may mean in terms of human health. As well as summarising the literature about pet therapy, this chapter provides guidelines for its application in nursing practice.


Topics:

• Introduction
• History
• Definitions and scientific Rresearch
• Relaxation
• Precautions
• Nursing and animals
• Guidelines for nursing interventions
• Guidelines for visiting and residential animal programs
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgments
• Endnote
• Appendix 14.1—Animal-assisted therapy within hospitals suggested infection control—a summary
• References

Speaker / Author:

Kirsten James

RN, Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences), Graduate Diploma in Adult Education and Training, Graduate Diploma in Healing Therapies, Certificate of Tactile Therapies (Relaxation Massage), Freelance lecturer and consultant in private practice, and registered nurse at Mount Alexander Hospital, Castlemaine, Victoria.

Kirsten was introduced to complementary therapies when working in the UK some 10 years ago.Western medicine emphasises medications and surgery as the cornerstones of health care. Kirsten believes that complementary therapies offer a broader, more holistic range of treatment options. She also believes they offer more scope to individualise care, and the opportunity for people to acquire means of empowering themselves and accepting responsibility for their own health.

In 1995 she established a consultancy to facilitate the safe and professional introduction of complementary therapies into a variety of health care settings. Kirsten lectures in complementary therapies at RMIT and Victoria Universities in Melbourne. She is currently undertaking a master’s degree at the latter university exploring why nurses choose complementary therapies. Kirsten lives in country Victoria and would like to thank ‘Rennie the Wonderdog’ for his support whilst she was writing this chapter.

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