1 Evidence-Based Way to Prevent Post-Procedure Nausea

Time is money in the perioperative setting, but a patient satisfied with their postoperative recovery is priceless.

That’s why JD Buchert, MSN, M.Ed, MS, RN, the periop workforce safety manager at Parkland Health in Dallas was so excited to share his team’s poster on the results of a nurse-led intervention to reduce post-operative and post-procedure nausea and vomiting (PONV/PPNV) during AORN’s 2023 annual conference.

The intervention involves placing an orange-peppermint aromatherapy adhesive patch on the upper portion of the patient’s gown as soon as they enter the PACU. The aim is to decrease or avoid the use of antiemetic drugs for treating nausea and vomiting.

Buchert says the results of this PONV/PPNV intervention using an alternative to antiemetics speak for themselves. His team reports:

• 9% reduction in overall use of antiemetics during recovery
• 6% reduction in antiemetic administration for patients receiving general anesthesia
• 100% reduction in the need for antiemetics for patients receiving monitored anesthesia care
• A reduction in PACU stay times when compared to a sample of the same patient population from one year prior.

“When you have the opportunity to reduce PACU stay times and increase patient satisfaction scores, it results in a happy marriage—that is what this project was able to prove.”

These findings add new research to the body of literature on PONV that demonstrates the benefit of post-procedural aromatherapy in patients receiving light sedation/monitored anesthesia care (MAC). Reducing PONV and PPNV also reduces the risk for complications such as wound dehiscence, electrolyte abnormalities, and aspiration pneumonia.

Additionally, a review of patient surveys showed that the patients who received the aromatherapy intervention overwhelmingly would want this again if they had surgery. “They felt that the hospital cared about their well-being—this is what secures patient buy-in.”

Buchert hopes that other nurses reviewing the outcomes of this research project will be encouraged to pursue their own research path that leads to improved patient outcomes. This, and two other aromatherapy projects his team completed, also became one of Buchert’s greatest joys. And not for a reason he expected. At total of 38 of the direct care nurses involved in the project became research nurses.

“We should always strive to be better and try new innovations that can lead to better patient outcomes and a stronger healthcare team—this work demonstrates the power nurses have to effect this type of positive change.”

Use your Virtual Pass to access Buchert’s poster, as well as other education sessions and available contact hours for those who missed for those who missed AORN's annual conference in 2023.