This is a quality improvement project that aims to assess the effect of nurse-driven administration of essential oil aromatherapy on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients while in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after general anesthesia.
In this three-month quality improvement project, nurse-driven aromatherapy will be offered to all patients in the main PACU setting at the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) Houston Healthcare Southeast Hospital after they have undergone surgical procedures with general anesthesia, with the exception of patients who report allergies or sensitivity to ginger or lavender essential oils (EO) and patients who wish to be excluded from the project.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
200
Within 5 minutes of arrival at the PACU, the PACU nurse will proactively offer the patient a 2x2 gauze with two drops of essential oil (patient's choice of ginger or lavender essential oil) for all patients who have opted to participate, regardless of their nausea and vomiting status. Participating patients will continue to use the essential oil during their stay in the PACU, which is typically 45-60 minutes.
Within 5 minutes of arrival at the PACU, the PACU nurse will proactively offer the patient a 2x2 gauze with two drops of essential oil (patient's choice of ginger or lavender essential oil) for all patients who have opted to participate, regardless of their nausea and vomiting status. Participating patients will continue to use the essential oil during their stay in the PACU, which is typically 45-60 minutes.
HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast Hospital
Pasadena, Texas, United States
Number of Post-Operative Nausea and Vomiting Episodes While in the PACU
Time frame: during stay in PACU (about 45-60 minutes)
PACU Length of Stay
PACU length of stay is the time between PACU admission and PACU discharge, measured in minutes.
Time frame: time between PACU admission and PACU discharge (about 45-60 minutes)
Number of Participants Who Use Antiemetics While in the PACU
Time frame: during stay in PACU (about 45-60 minutes)
Patient Satisfaction as Assessed by the Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey
The Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey is scored from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater satisfaction.
Time frame: at discharge (about 1 hour after PACU admission)
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