As a surgical patient lies in a preoperative holding bed prior to surgery, her Healing Touch practitioner moves her hands gently through the patient's energy field, from head to toe. The patient is preparing for a major surgical procedure, so she has employed a Healing Touch professional to help her through her surgical procedure. 

Healing Touch is a non-invasive energy therapy that facilitates the smooth and balanced flow of energy and the connection of mind, body and spirit. This therapy works in harmony with standard medical care, according to Healing Touch International (www.healingtouchinternational.org), the non-profit organization that offers education, credentialing, continuing education and patient education and resources for Healing Touch therapy.

The Healing Touch practitioner gently rests her hands energy centers of the patient's body, also known as chakras, as the patient listens to guided imagery. After the surgery, the patient's Healing Touch practitioner is waiting in the recovery room and works with the patient to clear the energy field and bring the patient into harmony and balance. The practitioner and recovery room nurse observe that the patient's heart rate and breathing normalize.

"This direct response and improved recovery due to Healing Touch is something you just can't believe until you see the results," said Jody Hueschen, RN, MSN, CNOR, NEA-BC,CHTP-I, a perioperative nurse who has worked in the OR for more than 30 years and also has a private practice as a Healing Touch practitioner. "It's amazing to see the physical changes that result through Healing Touch and it's empowering, as a perioperative nurse, to be able to apply Healing Touch to help surgical patients recover from surgery."

Hueschen is co-chair of AORN's Integrated Health Practices Specialty Assembly, which provides networking and education about complementary therapies, such as Healing Touch. Research has shown that complementary therapies used in combination with standard surgical care can improve patient outcomes.

Perioperative nurse and Healing Touch
practitioner Jody Hueschen (left) provides
Healing Touch therapy for a patient prior
to a surgical procedure.


Members of AORN's Integrated Health Practices Specialty Assembly are working to raise awareness and educate members about complementary therapies like Healing Touch, which nurses can use to improve patient care.

Healing Touch can be used to reduce stress, strengthen the immune system and even help cancer patients by reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

"A healing touch practitioner actively involves the patient in his or her own care to better understand what the patient needs and wants, so that practitioner and patient work together to encourage holistic health," noted Norrie MacIlraith, RN, MS, CNS, TH, HTA, co-chair of AORN's Integrated Health Practices SA.

"As nurses, our role is to care for the whole patient-body, mind and spirit, which we do as perioperative nurses. Through the energy work with Healing Touch therapy I can enhance this holistic care even more," Hueschen explained.

To ask questions and engage in dialogue about Healing Touch and other integrated health practices with Hueschen, MacIlratith and other members of AORN's Integrated Health Practices SA, visit communities.aorn.org/COP, log in with member ID, and select Integrated Health Practices Specialty Assembly.

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