Our facility is using essential oils like they are the second coming of Jesus. We have no policy and procedure, no regulations, no MSDS, nothing. Some shifts soak the resident's skin, no carrier oils, soak their bedding, clothing and other personal items.
We've got nurses bringing their own supply of essential oils FROM HOME and putting them on the patients!! No where in nursing would that ever be allowed.
It's making the nursing staff sick. According to the FDA, once you put these essential oils on the skin of the patient, it's considered a drug.
What is the answer here? The popularity of essential oils and the unbelievable backlash if you question if they work or not is getting old for me very quickly.
(Just FYI essential oils are completely unregulated and they are a 4 BILLION dollar industry).
Does your facility use essential oils? What's the policy on this?
For What it's Worth: You cannot find ANY essential oils listed in the drug handbook. Think about that.
Essential oils are being used in pilot projects in hospitals around the country. The oils are not to be put directly on the skin, but beside the patient on a gauze put in a med cup. It is noted to be causing less anxiety, helpful for sleep and even seeing a reduced number of patients asking for pain medications. I think at this time only Lavender, Orange, Eucalyptus and I think Mint are being used. It cannot go on the skin and it is locked up like a medication. I know there is a sheet they sign for use and nothing directly in the MAR. There are standing orders for it.
The legalities of this are soon going to catch up with the unbelievable haste to accept it. Currently there is very little 'evidence' that any of it works. It's a big fad and it's a four billion dollar industry.
Healthcare has jumped on the bandwagon and it's going to get worse before it gets better. The trouble with effectiveness in documenting a reduction in anxiety is it's purely subjective. Nurses who are huge promoters of essential oils are just naturally going to document that it works so well.
We haven't seen these results in our facility. So far dementia patients with really outrageous behaviors respond best to staff numbers and staff who are trained to help them through a crisis.
I really began to think I was losing my mind. Then, I came on here because I KNOW BETTER. So glad to have people like you. Thank you for the support and the smile.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
I am someone who has hugely resented people who wear perfume, scented lotions, body sprays etc to work, because certain scents send me into crippling migraines.
I do diffuse essential oils from time to time in my office, simply because it is pleasant and I can tailor the strength of the scent to my issues. I cannot fathom them being used in the method described and agree that someone truly needs to be visiting Employee Health, Risk Management and perhaps their Union rep.
In all my research on essential oils, you have to be so...so..careful. While I have found peppermint oil in a carrier helped with nerve damage and migraine headaches, I am still very careful. You still have to be so careful so many of them can interact with meds, raise blood pressure, allergic reactions, etc. For some folks essential oils can be wonderful but for others they can reek havoc. Many interact with seizure medications and some are pain relievers and should not be mixed with other medications. Even diffusing into the air can cause issues...if someone is allergic to lavender and it is diffused they can have a reaction even with the diffuser turned off. The oil can be on surfaces and in the air even when not being diffused. Even the air fresheners and candles that so many people and companies are putting in rampant use can be detrimental some people because they are actually chemically based and can trigger asthma attacks. Before any oil is placed on a patient I would think the doctor would have to do his research and it would have to be ordered. Essential oil therapy has its place but it takes a lot of research and care because so many were and are used for medicinal purposes...for instance some are pain relievers but if you mix with pain prescription or otc pain reliever you may be doubling the amount of pain medication going into your body some are blood thinners, some slow your heart, some help to lower blood pressure some can raise blood pressure....the list goes on. I myself am a great believer in natural products but always research, research, research and never apply to someone else and always let your doctor know what you are ingesting or even applying to your skin.
i think essential oils are nice - for my own personal use in my own home. I'd never dream of using them on a patient. They are strong, and can be powerful and as stated by prior posters, they can cause interactions. My liability alarm is sounding loud and clear.
Lavender triggers my asthma something fierce. I had to tell one of the techs I work with that if he diffuses lavender (he brings his diffuser to work) and I have an attack, I'm going to be upset...time and place...and work is neither
Kayauhs
101 Posts
The legalities of this are soon going to catch up with the unbelievable haste to accept it. Currently there is very little 'evidence' that any of it works. It's a big fad and it's a four billion dollar industry.
Healthcare has jumped on the bandwagon and it's going to get worse before it gets better. The trouble with effectiveness in documenting a reduction in anxiety is it's purely subjective. Nurses who are huge promoters of essential oils are just naturally going to document that it works so well.
We haven't seen these results in our facility. So far dementia patients with really outrageous behaviors respond best to staff numbers and staff who are trained to help them through a crisis.