Research HELP!!!!!

May 31, 2003 03:33 AM

by ursula10

Hi Guys,
I hope the word research didn't scare you away or keep anyone from reading my post. Personally the word makes me cringe, but being that I need the class to graduate, I'm learning to grin and bear it.
I am NOT a SRNA. I am but a lowly RN working on an MSN/MBA who secretly dreams of becoming a CRNA! I am very interested in anesthesia and in an attempt to make this whole research proposal a bit more interesting, I would like to incorporate anesthesia into my study. I was told that I could research anything as long as it dealt with my field of work. I work in a small ICU and I am interested in doing some research on adverse effects of anesthesia postoperatively.
No I am not bashing anesthetists or anesthesiologists. I read an article that stated, "While usually occurring as an operating room emergency, malignant hyperthermia can appear postoperatively on a medical-surgical unit. If unrecognized and/or untreated, malignant hyperthermia can be fatal. " Any ideas on a specific topic that relates to RNs ( in Med/surg or ICU) and potential dangers that can result to patients that have had anesthesia? I might really be reaching here guys but, as I stated, I would love to incorporate anesthesia into my study. Any ideas? PLEASE HELP ME!

A Little Lost,
Ursula

gwenith · May 31, 2003, 05:04 AM

I personally would not do malignant hypothermia as it is linked to genetic abnormality and is usually well traced. What about something nice and simple - nausea post -operatively - do we have figures for the percentage of patients experienceing post-op nausea and what most commonly triggers it?

loisane · May 31, 2003, 12:04 PM

There are tests for MH, but they aren't going to be done unless there has been a suspicious episode, either in the patient or his family. So, we are always on the alert for MH. Of course, it is pretty rare.

I agree, there is alot out there on PONV. Hypothermia is another one. Doesn't sound too glamorous, but there are a lot of physiologic consequences to hypothermia. Preventing and treating it isn't just all about comfort.

loisane · May 31, 2003, 12:05 PM

There are tests for MH, but they aren't going to be done unless there has been a suspicious episode, either in the patient or his family. So, we are always on the alert for MH. Of course, it is pretty rare.

I agree, there is alot out there on PONV. Hypothermia is another one. Doesn't sound too glamorous, but there are a lot of physiologic consequences to hypothermia. Preventing and treating it isn't just all about comfort.

loisane crna

TexasCRNA · Jun 03, 2003, 02:07 PM

I agree with loisane, go with the hypothermia issue for it is a hot topic where I came from, specifically pts having had total hip replacements, spinals.

You would need to narrow your research down to a type of surgery and or anesthesia tech so you could identify factors involved and be able to show type of trend. The data collection would be simple in that you could get the nurses to keep tract of the pts temps over a certain time intervals like 2,8,12 hours and see how they are effected. You could also figure in what type of warming devices were used periop like warm blankets vs bair huggers to keep pts warm thru the anes record and pacu records.

Hope this helps, Lee.

ursula10 · Jun 03, 2003, 08:37 PM

Thanks for the wonderful advice. "Passin' Gas" also provided some good input.
Thanks again,
Ursula

KSCRNA · Jun 05, 2003, 01:19 PM

Another good and timely topic would be post-op discomfort and the use of a post-op discomfort scale. Usually it is a pain scale, but to a patient that has more negative connotations.

ursula10 · Jun 07, 2003, 02:37 AM

post obstructive pulmonary edema

I received a post that stated: An interesting phenomenon is post obstructive pulmonary edema after a general anesthesia. We had one case in a 17 year old boy. And it is most common in young healthy men and boys because they have such a great lung capacity that when they take a deep breath when being extubated it causes a traumatic collapse of the aveoli...and then pul. edema. Is this a good topic?

WntrMute2 · Jun 07, 2003, 05:46 AM

No, cases are pretty rare.

lml33 · Jun 19, 2003, 12:13 AM

Keep it simple. Some people try to go with complicated topics to make their project appear more appealing. The simpler it is, the easier it is for you. Concentrate on limiting extraneous variables. If they cannot be controlled, then identify them in your research design. Good Luck! Leslie.

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Research HELP!!!!!

Research HELP!!!!!

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