Naturopathic physicians diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases using a system of practice that is based on the natural healing capacity of individuals. May use physiological, psychological, or mechanical methods. May also use natural medicines, prescription or legend drugs, foods, herbs, or other natural remedies.

 

 

  • Interview patients to document symptoms and health histories.
  • Document patients' histories, including identifying data, chief complaints, illnesses, previous medical or family histories, or psychosocial characteristics.
  • Administer, dispense, or prescribe natural medicines, such as food or botanical extracts, herbs, dietary supplements, vitamins, nutraceuticals, and amino acids.
  • Advise patients about therapeutic exercise and nutritional medicine regimens.
  • Conduct physical examinations and physiological function tests for diagnostic purposes.
  • Diagnose health conditions, based on patients' symptoms and health histories, laboratory and diagnostic radiology test results, or other physiological measurements, such as electrocardiograms and electroencephalographs.
  • Educate patients about health care management.
  • Maintain professional development through activities such as postgraduate education, continuing education, preceptorships, and residency programs.
  • Administer treatments or therapies, such as homeopathy, hydrotherapy, Oriental or Ayurvedic medicine, electrotherapy, and diathermy, using physical agents including air, heat, cold, water, sound, or ultraviolet light to catalyze the body to heal itself.
  • Consult with other health professionals to provide optimal patient care, referring patients to traditional health care professionals as necessary.
  • Prescribe synthetic drugs under the supervision of medical doctors or within the allowances of regulatory bodies.
  • Order diagnostic imaging procedures such as radiographs (x-rays), ultrasounds, mammograms, and bone densitometry tests, or refer patients to other health professionals for these procedures.
  • Obtain medical records from previous physicians or other health care providers for the purpose of patient evaluation.
  • Perform mobilizations and high-velocity adjustments to joints or soft tissues, using principles of massage, stretching, or resistance.
  • Perform venipuncture or skin pricking to collect blood samples.
  • Conduct periodic public health maintenance activities such as immunizations and screenings for diseases and disease risk factors.
  • Monitor updates from public health agencies to keep abreast of health trends.
  • Perform minor surgical procedures, such as removing warts, moles, or cysts, sampling tissues for skin cancer or lipomas, and applying or removing sutures.
  • Report patterns of patients' health conditions, such as disease status and births, to public health agencies.
  • Treat minor cuts, abrasions, or contusions.
Work Context
  • Contact With Others — 96% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Telephone — 91% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 91% responded "Every day".
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 91% responded "Every day".
  • Electronic Mail — 86% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 70% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 77% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Read More
Work Activities
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Read More
Detailed Work Activities
  • Treat patients using physical therapy techniques.
  • Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
  • Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.
  • Order medical diagnostic or clinical tests.
  • Treat patients using alternative medical procedures.
  • Administer non-intravenous medications.
  • Read More

Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Read More

Skills

Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Read More

Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Read More

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
Read More

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Medical software
  • Enova eNatro
  • Trigram Software AcuBase Pro
  • NaturoPlus
  • NaturaeMed OfficePro
  • ZYTO LSA Pro
Internet browser software
  • Web browser software
Read More