Music Therapy in the PACU and Pre op area

Nurses Activism

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I work in the PACU, and have been trying to convince my manager that providing relaxing music to our postop patients, would help in the recovery process.

I believe that it would help reduce anxiety levels, pre op also. Relaxing music would also help drown out the alarms and other screaming patients.

Does anyone utilize music therapy in their PACU? I am in the process of reading several articles about this concept; mostly in other countries though.

My manager cited a few reasons why it would not be feasible; cost, infection control, music selection... So, I have a box of earplugs for now.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I think that it would increase patient satisfaction tremendously; I am not giving up....

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Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.

I work in the ICU, not PACU, but my hospital has a relaxation music channel on the tv and I routinely turn it on for my patients with positive results.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Sounds like a wonderful QI project! There is quite a bit of literature out there on the use of various relaxation modalities to decrease stress -- and physical symptoms of stress. Back in the 80's, we routinely used music therapy with our neuro trauma patients. Even my dentist encourages his 'skittish' patients to use iPods during procedures.

My suggestion? Structure this as a QI process - be sure to associate it with improved HCAHPS scores & that will increase the likelihood of admin support.

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I wrote a nursing school paper on providing individualized music in PACU!

Pts don't need to listen to all that garbage going on around them. It's hard to feel good when the person next to you, separated only by a curtain, is heaving or howling in pain.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

What does the literature say?

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I think this is an awesome idea!!!

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