Why do hospitals continue use the incentive spirometer?

[felixis12]

In 2001 a group of researchers collected the entire database of studies regarding the incentive spirometer, and they concluded that "the evidence does not support the use of incentive spirometry for decreasing the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications following cardiac or upper abdominal surgery." In other words, it's not effective as people think it is. Why do hospitals continue use incentive spirometry?

[TheNGTKingRN]

I work in general surgery. We get ALL the stable postops of the hospital. The surgeons hunt down the nurses if there is no IS at bedside.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Felixis joined today and I suspect we have just done his homework.

He will be back next week with a new username and another random research question.

[vanilla bean]

Felixis joined today and I suspect we have just done his homework.

He will be back next week with a new username and another random research question.

Lol, icuRNmaggie. I was simultaneously typing, "Did you guys just do someone's homework for them?" when your comment appeared.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Lol, icuRNmaggie. I was simultaneously typing, "Did you guys just do someone's homework for them?" when your comment appeared.

Oh man! I let my guard down! Shame on me.

[Dogen]

Felixis joined today and I suspect we have just done his homework.

He will be back next week with a new username and another random research question.

We're just so helpful! I'd like to see what people write after asking questions like this. "Some people think it works and other people don't (Allnurses.com, 2015)." Short paper.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I think the IS works if the nurse teaches it properly and reinforces it frequently. When it sits on the night stand, the nurse is obviously too busy to get to it. So here's a point for your homework assignment, Felixis: Adequate staffing saves lives. Pushing the staffing envelope means things get missed. And patients have poorer outcomes. Period.

[thmpr]

But they look so pretty sitting on the bedside table, or kicked under the bed on the floor, in the wrapper until discharge.

They make great pen holders

[ambr46]

You are my nursing soul sister. I love the patient teaching aspect of our job, and I jokingly refer to myself as "Nurse Nag" with patients re: deep breathing/IS, ambulation/mobility (when medically appropriate), and self-advocacy.

I have to agree with you. I think it also gives the patient some control over their healing. You can always tell the ones who really want to get better fast because they have their lips locked on it before you can even do any nagging. I see it as a positive thing and a small step that gives the patient the confidence to really try and push themselves to recovery.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I have to agree with you. I think it also gives the patient some control over their healing. You can always tell the ones who really want to get better fast because they have their lips locked on it before you can even do any nagging. I see it as a positive thing and a small step that gives the patient the confidence to really try and push themselves to recovery.

Very true! And in oncology- oral care is another example of this. Some patients love to try and improve their outcome any way they can. I encourage oral care, IS, ambulation, and their best attempt at a well balanced diet.

[AllieSparksRN]

A few weeks ago I had a joint replacement who couldn't get his IS "to work." I asked him to show me what was wrong. He was holding it upside down. Not sure how the stars aligned but he and I both had a good belly laugh over that one. There was something so innocent and hilarious about it and...you just had to be there. Thinking about it still makes me laugh :) .

[AllieSparksRN]

But they look so pretty sitting on the bedside table, or kicked under the bed on the floor, in the wrapper until discharge.

A few times a year I work in the simulation lab as a patient voice at the nursing college. When the student nurses ask me about my IS, I tell them it's my hat rack :) .