Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Fascia Iliaca Blocks For The Treatment Of Hip Fractures In The Emergency Department, Megan Hahn

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Due to the aging population, the number of falls are increasing, leading to an increased number of individuals with hip fractures presenting in emergency departments (ED). Opioids are often administered for intraoperative pain related to hip fractures, which may result in a number of adverse effects, especially in the elderly. There is strong evidence suggesting that the use of fascia iliaca blocks (FIBs) in the ED can minimize opioid use, and improve patient outcomes and recovery. FIB is a compartment block that delivers local anesthetic around the lumbar plexus to provide analgesia associated with hip fractures.

The purpose of this …

Development And Implementation Of An Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Screening Tool For Orthopedic Patients, Katie O'Rourke

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are evidence-based programs utilized by hospitals to improve patient outcomes and decrease perioperative opioid administration, generally associated with abdominal surgeries. With over 850,000 orthopedic surgeries performed in 2016, the volume of operations alone indicates a need for adoption of ERAS protocols within the orthopedic patient population. A review of literature was completed to gather the most current, evidence-based non-opioid components to be included in an ERAS protocol for orthopedic patients at a 460-bed hospital in Missouri. The results showed that Acetaminophen, Celebrex, Gabapentin, and regional anesthesia techniques are the most utilized ERAS adjuncts. With …

Discharge Opioid Guidelines For The Postpartum Woman, Chelsea Marie Pierce

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

In spite of the alarming opioid abuse epidemic, the number of opioids prescribed to women who give birth has been overlooked and underregulated. In a large metropolitan hospital that has over 3,500 deliveries a year, this problem was identified through first-hand encounter and data collection from an electronic medical record. Women in the postpartum period were prescribed an unnecessary number of opioids upon discharge. The goal of this project was to create guidelines that would decrease opioid use and increase the overall well-being of postpartum women. Guidelines were based off of type of delivery and women were not allotted more …