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DOI
https://doi.org/10.63853/UEQM2213
Description
Literature Review: Pediatric neurosurgery patients often face increased anxiety and agitation. Nurses may lack knowledge of non-pharmacological interventions to reduce agitation and anxiety in their patients. Literature review used MeSH Headings and keywords to find recent English articles. Evidence shows EO reduces anxiety. Lavender inhalation lowers anxiety, pain, and vital signs in pediatric dental patients. In adults, aromatherapy decreases anxiety, pain, blood pressure, and improves sleep, also reducing pain and extubation time.
PICO: In pediatric neurosurgical bedside nurses, does education on lavender essential oil, compared to no education, improve knowledge, confidence and intent to integrate it as a complementary therapy for TBI patients?
Evaluation: Nurses' knowledge of EO benefits was evaluated, and education was provided in staff meetings. Twenty-two nurses completed the pre-questionnaire and twenty-seven the post-questionnaire. In the pretest, 73% of nurses had experience using EO, compared to 59% in the posttest. EO use was mainly seasonal. Most nurses (86%) had never received EO education in the pretest, compared to 59% in the posttest. In the pretest, 87% rated their understanding of EO as slightly or not at all knowledgeable, decreasing to 71% in the posttest. Only 59% were likely or very likely to consider lavender EO for pain, agitation, or anxiety in neurosurgery patients in the pretest, compared to 92% in the posttest. Before education, 59% believed neurosurgery patients could benefit from EO, increasing to 85% after. All felt they gained some or comprehensive knowledge, and 92% wanted more EO education. EO education boosted nurses' knowledge and willingness to use EO with pediatric neurosurgery patients.
Publication Date
11-24-2025
Disciplines
Pediatric Nursing
Recommended Citation
Sacks, Sheri, "Empowering Nurses A Training Initiative on Essential Oils for Pediatric Neurosurgery Patients" (2025). 2025. 18.
https://scholarlycollection.childrens.com/nursing-anf2025/18
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
