by Marifran Cooper
5-PATH® Certified Master Hypnotist
7th Path Self-Hypnosis® Teacher
5-PATH® Certified Professional Hypnosis Instructor
There are extensive opportunities for nurses to both benefit from and use hypnosis.
Hypnosis can alleviate the pain and suffering associated with burns, cancer, labor and delivery, emergent care situations, surgical preparation, and recovery from procedures and surgeries. Hypnosis can lessen the discomfort of chronic pain and life-threatening illnesses. Hypnosis can be used for health promotion for adults and children by fostering active participation and cooperation with medical regimens.
Nurses can easily integrate the principles of hypnotic suggestions (waking hypnosis) into daily conversations with patients, families, and groups. In addition, hypnosis can facilitate staff cohesiveness, stress management, and conflict resolution.
Dr. Milton Erickson defined hypnosis as essentially a communication of ideas to a patient. Hypnosis is done in such a fashion that the patient is most receptive to the presented ideas. The person then becomes motivated to explore his own body potentials for the control of his psychological and physiological responses and behavior. In addition, Erickson claimed that during a trance, “learning and openness to change are most likely to occur”.
Modern hypnosis is defined as a heightened state of suggestibility. It is simply an “opened minded” state. Hypnosis often occurs when we are in a relaxed and focused condition. We often experience spontaneous states of hypnosis while day dreaming, reading a good book or watching a sad movie.
Relaxation techniques and hypnosis are health strategies that can enhance an individual’s buy-in to a healthy daily lifestyle. Even a simple intervention as progressive relaxation can have profound health-promoting benefits to adults in today’s stressed work and family environments as well as society in general.
I believe that nurses will benefit from a self-care workshop for nurses and subsequently, those benefits will flow down to their families, work environment and patients. When used as a daily practice, 7th Path Self-Hypnosis® spreads a calm and healing presence in the practitioners life. Their personal feelings of anger and frustration are self-identified and self-neutralized. Healthier eating and sleeping patterns are initiated and subsequently, the nurses’ patience, health, ego and resilience are strengthened.
Hypnosis is a powerful tool that can promote health and healing. I believe that employers and nurses need to recognize the importance of nurses’ self-care. I have recently developed and submitted this workshop to the New York State Nurses Association. This workshop will serve multiple purposes; self-care, a kinder work environment and the bonus of professional education of 10 continuing education hours.
