SPOTLIGHT: Juli Reynolds, BSN, RN4-CC
Type of project: Research
Title of project: Nurses' Perception and Competency on Essential Oils for Patient Care
Co-authors involved in this publication: Elizabeth Card, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CPAN, CCRP; Mike Leersnyder, CRNA; Mamie Williams, MPH, MSN, FNP-BC
Description of project: Aromatherapy is an age-old therapy designed to alter mood and physical symptoms. It has gained popularity as a safe and cost-effective complementary and alternative therapy. As the evidence of aromatherapy's effectiveness has grown, nurses have increased the use of essential oils to manage their own stress as well as their patients' stress and anxiety.
Why you chose this project: The evidence suggests that people can use scents that consistently produce specific responses to improve emotional and/or physical well-being. Limited evidence exists on the influence of nurse stress on patient stress as indicated by changes in blood pressure and use of sedatives to reduce anxiety and agitation.
Presentation and publication as a result of this project
Poster: Nurses' Perception and Competency on Essential Oils for Patient care, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Aprilfest, May 4, 2018
Publication:
Juli Reynolds, BSN, RN; Betsy Parker, RN; Nancy Wells, DNSc, RN, FAAN; Elizabeth Card, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CPAN, CCRP: Using Aromatherapy in the Clinical Setting, American Nurse Today, 2018;13(6)
Presented: at ASPAN National Conference and MAGNET
Notes from the spotlight:
- Essential oil (aromatherapy) uses "naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize, and promote the health of body and mind."
- Aromatherapy has gained popularity as a safe and cost-effective complementary therapy to alter mood and physical symptoms.
- Two nurse-driven aromatherapy studies indicated decreased staff perception of stress and increased mood. Patients experienced decreased agitation.