Document Type

DNP Project

Department

School of Nursing

Date of Degree

Spring 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Primary Advisor

Karen J. Whitt, PhD, APRN, FNP-C, AGN-BC, FAANP

Keywords

Aromatherapy; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV); Essential Oils; Ginger; Lavender; Perioperative Nursing; Complementary Therapy; Evidence-Based Practice; Patient Satisfaction; Holistic Care; DNP Project; Iowa Model-Revised

Abstract

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) remains one of the most common and distressing complications following general anesthesia, negatively affecting comfort, recovery, and satisfaction. Although antiemetics are routinely administered, many patients continue to experience PONV. Aromatherapy using essential oils such as ginger and lavender has demonstrated benefit as a low‑risk complementary modality, it was underutilized in clinical settings.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an evidence‑based aromatherapy intervention to increase aromatherapy utilization and decrease PONV incidence among eligible post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) patients; as well as educate and improve perioperative nurses’ acceptance of aromatherapy.

Methods: During a three-month pilot, adult PACU patients recovering from general anesthesia were offered ginger or lavender essential-oil patches in addition to standard antiemetics. PONV incidence was operationalized as PACU antiemetic medication administration accompanied by documented nausea/vomiting-related indications. Perioperative nurses completed an 11-item pre- and post-education survey to rate acceptance to use aromatherapy on a 5 point Likert scale. Patients who used aromatherapy completed a brief survey to rate nausea relief, comfort, and satisfaction. Descriptive statistics summarized uptake and survey responses. Paired t-tests compared nurses’ pre- and post-education acceptance of aromatherapy ratings, and chi-square analysis evaluated changes in PONV incidence.

Results: Among 1,487 PACU patients, 199 presented with PONV; 100 used aromatherapy (50.3%), and 45 completed surveys (22.6%). Nurses’ post education aromatherapy acceptance ratings improved significantly (3.68 to 4.58, p < .001). Patients mean ratings of aromatherapy were highly positive (satisfaction 4.11/5; comfort 4.05/5). Antiemetic use decreased from 15.0% to 13.4%.

Conclusions/Recommendations: Aromatherapy was well accepted by nurses, and positively perceived by patients. Continued integration of aromatherapy as a complementary option in PACU PONV management is recommended. This project supports aromatherapy as an adjunct to standard PONV management, with potential to enhance patient experience, strengthen nurse engagement, and inform broader perioperative practice.

Open Access

1

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.