A small trial conducted in the PACU found that 15 out of 52 of the patients did not require any additional antiemetics after receiving QueaseEASE®, resulting in a cost savings of $750.
AUTHOR(S): Cathy Nolte Slupik BSN RN CCRN Mission Hospital of Providence St Joseph Health, Mission Viejo, California. Team Members: Margie Whittaker MSN RN, Debbie Busby-Edebiri BSN RN CNOR CEN, Jeanie Hanamura RN MSN ONC
DATE: March 2017
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Despite the use of conventional pharmaceutical treatment modalities prophylactically, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) continues to be a problem in the PACU. Mission Hospital’s RN staff were introduced to an aromatherapy product specifically meant to decrease PONV at a recent conference. Moreover, staff were interested in using treatment modalities that did not require a physician’s order. Since stewardship is a priority and the introduction of new products in practice is highly scrutinized, we were interested in evaluating if there was a decrease in the use of antiemetics when the aromatherapy was utilized in our own PACU.
OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT
To evaluate the use of aromatherapy to decrease use of antiemetic medications and decrease our patients experience of PONV and to determine the financial impact of aromatherapy.
PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION
The literature review indicated that aromatherapy has had positive effect on decreasing PONV. The policy for use of aromatherapy was updated. The use of QueaseEase (QE) was discussed at our unit based shared governance meeting in March 2017. A poster presentation describing the use of QE was provided in our break room. The questionnaire about the use of QE for patients was stapled to each QE quick pack dispenser. Our nurses were encouraged to use the QE for patients experiencing PONV and fill out the questionnaire provided to collect data about the effectiveness of QE in reducing the use of anti-emetic and the patient’s experience. The QE is in our bedside cart next to the alcohol swabs.
STATEMENT OF SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE
The results indicate that in a sample of 52 patients, 15 patients did not require the use of additional anti-emetics. This is a $750 savings in this sample of patients. In total, 86% of our patients felt that the QE was beneficial.
IMPLICATIONS FOR ADVANCING THE PRACTICE OF PERIANESTHESIA NURSING
QE is an effective alternative to antiemetics for almost half of the postoperative patients who used it. Plan to get administration support to be able to offer aromatherapy after the trial is completed.