Semester

Fall

Date of Graduation

2022

Document Type

Problem/Project Report

Degree Type

DNP

College

School of Nursing

Department

Not Listed

Committee Chair

Mike Frame

Committee Co-Chair

Jared Lamp

Committee Member

Jared Lamp

Abstract

The challenge of postoperative pain control following a thoracotomy is well noted among anesthesia providers. The intraoperative utilization of low-dose ketamine in several patient populations, including those undergoing a thoracotomy, has been deemed a viable intervention in the multi-modal analgesia plan at not only reducing postoperative pain scores for patients, but also reducing opioid consumption. This quality improvement project sought to increase provider awareness of this intervention among anesthesia providers in a community hospital with a goal to influence a practice change. This was completed using a pre-post design centered around an educational in-service, with an additional 60-day follow-up survey to gather provider feedback on the success of the in-service. Baseline knowledge and utilization of this technique was determined prior to the educational offering. Statistically significant improvement in the knowledge of low-dose ketamine was noted and all providers indicated a willingness to implement this practice change. Despite low volumes of this patient population in this community hospital, those providers who did implement the use of low-dose ketamine felt both postoperative pain and opioid consumption were reduced.

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