GCU Nursing Research & Practice Journal Discussion

Limiting Drug Use Through the Use of Alternative Methods for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

The main focus of the change proposal

Postoperative nausea and vomiting are irregularities occurring after surgery due to anesthetic injections. According to Stoicea et al. (2015), the complications arise approximately 20 and 40% of the post-surgery individuals. Mostly, physicians prescribe drugs to ease the issue, yet they are proactive in standard medical treatment. In this case, QueaseEase, an aromatic inhaler, is the best approach to solving the problem. It is user friendly to people of all ages. However, individuals and medical professionals lack adequate information concerning the product. Therefore, the project will focus on professionals working in the post-anesthesia care unit.

The setting for the project proposal

In the post-anesthesia care unit, patients incur high costs due to prolonged treatment periods and poor satisfaction (Malone, 2017). Therefore, it is the most convenient setting to test QueaseEase effectiveness. The sampled patients will range from all age groups and different surgical treatments to determine the quality of the approach (Weibel et al., 2017). In this case, observations are made quickly with the control team in place.

Description of the problem

The postoperative complications management is insufficient, as found out by Lee et al. (2015), resulting in high costs and length of stay. Shaikh (2016) used Apfel simplified risk scoring model claims that patients with high scores experience increased complications. In this case, he claims that the use of non-pharmacological approaches is the best technique to reduce baseline risks. However, a proper professional approach, such as the use of the planned multimodal system from the preoperative period, will enhance a significant decline in the prevalence of the complications.

Effect of the problem

Nausea and vomiting conditions are challenging to surgical patients since it results in discomfort and mild infections. More so, it results in moderate and severe pains eventually (Lee et al., 2015). When it occurs, physicians prescribe more medicine for pain management. As per Kiberd et al., (2016), research the most quality approach is the use of QueaseEase, which relieves pain and nausea. Nevertheless, the anesthesia unit requires adequate training and education concerning the handling of medications and patients. A more sophisticated approach comprises forming a professional team that implements the idea and collects survey results. Understanding the impact of the complications and QueaseEase aromatherapy is crucial in resolving the difficulties.

Significance of the topic and its implications for nursing practice

Patients incur high costs after surgery due to emerging complications. More so, they claim inadequate approach from the clinicians concerning the issue. On the other hand, excessive use of drugs can deteriorate the health condition of an individual. Therefore, patients are less satisfied, resulting in the poor reputation of the nurses. Understanding alternative methods for curing postoperative nausea and vomiting will help in recovery, satisfaction, and reduced costs (Hines 2018). The nurses will have simplified work since they can treat the patients within a shorter period. Further, the reputation of the nurses will prevail as well as handle other predominant issues.

The proposed solution to the identified problem

As identified in the project, QueaseEase is a nausea relief product made out of essential oils. In this case, it has no medicinal components and used as an inhalant. Studies have shown that the product does not have after-effects and is recommended to patients of all risk levels. The approach will improve nursing practice through efficiency and effectiveness. Patients will receive satisfaction and ease after the surgery process.

References

Hines, S., Steels, E., Chang, A., & Gibbons, K. (2018). Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3).

Kiberd, M. B., Clarke, S. K., Chorney, J., d’Eon, B., & Wright, S. (2016). Aromatherapy for the treatment of PONV in children: a pilot RCT. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 16(1), 1-6.

Lee, Y. Z., Lee, R. Q., Thinn, K. K., Poon, K. H., & Liu, E. H. C. (2015). How patients fare after anaesthesia for elective surgery: a survey of postoperative nausea and vomiting, pain and confusion. Singapore medical journal, 56(1), 40.

Malone, D. (2017). Post-Operative Nausea Vomiting Aromatherapy Project. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 32(4), e49.

Phillips, C., Brookes, C. D., Rich, J., Arbon, J., & Turvey, T. A. (2015). Postoperative nausea and vomiting following orthognathic surgery. International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, 44(6), 745-751.

Shaikh, S. I., Nagarekha, D., Hegade, G., & Marutheesh, M. (2016). Postoperative nausea and vomiting: A simple yet complex problem. Anesthesia, essays and researches, 10(3), 388.

Stoicea, N., Gan, T. J., Joseph, N., Uribe, A., Pandya, J., Dalal, R., & Bergese, S. D. (2015). Alternative therapies for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Frontiers in medicine, 2, 87.

Weibel, S., Jelting, Y., Pace, N. L., Rücker, G., Raj, D., Schaefer, M. S., … & Kranke, P. (2017). Drugs for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults after general anaesthesia: a network meta‐analysis. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017(11).