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November 2009 CVMC's 3rd Nursing Research Team: Day Surgery/Anesthesia. How common is postoperative nausea and/or vomiting (PONV)? Maybe more than you realize. US statistics indicate as many as 75 million patients undergoing surgery per year experience PONV. Fear of this complication makes many patients anxious, and some report the fear of developing PONV after surgery as more disquieting than pain. This is an understandable reaction since PONV can be associated with negative outcomes such as aspiration pneumonia. Antiemetic medications are routinely utilized to prevent nausea and/or vomiting symptoms before surgery, intraoperatively, and after surgery when necessary. For certain individuals, antiemetics can cause side effects, e.g., somnolence, allergic reactions, and their administration prolongs the patient's length of hospital stay.
To gauge the effectiveness of peppermint aromatherapy, the research design compares controlled breathing to controlled breathing with peppermint aromatherapy. The research proposal application, recently submitted to the CVMC Institutional Review Board #1 - CV IRB for review, was granted approval. The team is currently developing staff education, and expect to begin enrolling subjects in the study by mid-January 2010. What do team members say about their nursing research team experience so far? Polly Torbush, RN, CAPA stated "it's been an eye-opening experience learning how people go about it [research], and how to evaluate and critique articles to see what we could use in our study." According to Lori Carswell, RN, CAPA, "I'm planning on using this research experience in my research course I'll be taking in the Spring for my BSN. When I reviewed the course, I was excited to see how many things I was already familiar with." Nancy Johnson, BSN, RN said "I've learned a lot about research, and now I'm anxious for it [the study] to begin." Team members pictured above include: (seated left to right) Susan Knowles, Nancy Johnson, (standing left to right) Lori Carswell, Jackie Miller, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Deb Sites, MHA, RN and Polly Torbush. Not pictured: Tara Fox, Jennifer Hawk. §
Crystal Killian, BSN, RN-BC: Medical/Surgical Certification Mary Killian, BSN, RN, CPAN: Certified PostAnesthesia Nurse
Psychiatry Patient Library Operational. An idea hatched in the Psychiatry Shared Governance Council last summer is now a reality. In efforts to increase patient satisfaction, improve nurse to patient communication, and to provide diversional activity, psychiatry nurses decided to create a library for their patients. Thanks to the book donations of CVMC employees and with monies from the Catawba Medical Foundation to purchase books, psychiatric patients now have an opportunity to read in their free time. The rolling library cart is wheeled around the department from 4:00 - 6:00 PM daily. Book check-out and check-in are carried out by the nurses allowing for increased nurse to patient interaction and communication. § PACU Nursing Research Wins Symposium Award. Forsyth Medical Center sponsored their 4th Annual Nursing Research Symposium on 13 November 2009. Three posters and two podium abstracts from CVMC were accepted for presentation. The conference was attended by more than 200 nurses. Over 60 abstracts were submitted in one of three categories: research, evidence-based practice and process improvement. Six presentations were chosen for awards by blind review; one per category for both poster and podium formats. The poster presented by Betty Easter, RN, CPAN and Carolyn Starnes, MSN, RN, CNM, CPAN, representing the PACU Nursing Research Team won Best Research Poster. Congratulations!
Others presenting CVMC evidence-based practice posters and/or talks included: Rose Cook, BSN, RN, OCN, Kelly Yang, BSN, RN (pictured above), Beth Rudisill, MSN, RN-BC, Gail Settlemyre, BSN, RN, CPAN, Kimberly Yates, MSN/MHA, RN-BC, Ann Moore, MSN, RN-BC, CEN and Rebecca Tart, PhD. § AMSN Foothills Chapter Established. Several nurses in the surgical, medical, and secure care units recently petitioned to charter a chapter of the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses – a national organization that recognizes and focuses on the specialty of medsurg. In early November, they received notification of being designated the Foothills Chapter of AMSN. About 18 members strong and growing, hospitals in addition to CVMC represented include FRMC and Mission. The Chapter plans to sponsor 4 educational sessions per year on topics of medical and surgical interest. This is an opportunity to grow professionally, network with nurses at other hospitals, and have fun. The Chapter meets on November 30th at 1730 in the AHEC Conference Room. Remember being a member of, and active in a professional organization has many rewards, including PEP! To join, go to www.amsn.org. The cost is $84 per year. Freebies Include: MedSurg Nursing Journal, MedSurg Matters! Newsletter, MedSurg Nursing Connection [e-newsletter], and free CE’s online-up to 18 per year in the AMSN Online Library. Officers are: President- Misty Oxentine, BSN, RN, CAPA; President Elect- Christy Hoke, BSN, RN-BC; Secretary- Carla Macijewski, MSN, RN; and Treasurer- Amy Barnes, BSN, RN-BC. §
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Day Surgery nurses at CVMC have been using peppermint oil as an alternative therapy for PONV for some time. However, they wanted to undertake a research project to scientifically evaluate its effectiveness in their patients. Thus was born CVMC's 3rd nursing research team. Under the leadership of Susan Knowles, MSN, RN-BC, the team began the research process. Various essential oils have attracted attention for their potential role in controlling nausea and vomiting. Yet, research studies addressing the use of peppermint aromatherapy are limited. During the literature appraisal phase, the team realized the best study design would require input from CRNAs. Tara Fox, CRNA joined the research team soon thereafter and she has recruited five additional CRNAs to participate in the research study. It also became apparent that PACU nurse involvement was important as patients may become nauseated prior to arriving in the DS area. Jennifer Hawk, RN, CAPA is the PACU liaison for the project. "I am proud of our multidisciplinary approach," says Susan Knowles. "As more people become involved, they will want to encourage their discipline to do a research study." 
