Date of Award

4-13-2022

Document Type

Restricted Access Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Lisa Van Getson, APRN, DNP, FNP-C

Second Advisor

Susan M. Cutshall, DNP, APRN, CNS

Abstract

Caregiver stress is contributing to the burnout of nurses at a rapid pace and putting nurses at an increased risk for developing a stress-related illness due to being in a constant state of fight-or-flight where cortisol is released. Continuous release of cortisol inhibits nonessential body functions such as decreasing immune responses, inhibiting digestion, or altering hormones, and can have detrimental effects on the body. Essential oils have been around for many years and the benefits of aromatherapy have been studied extensively on patient use in the hospital. Using those same principles on caregivers will enable the practitioner to provide an additional tool for stress relief to nurses. Utilizing the perceived stress scale before and after essential oil use is a way for the individual to measure the effectiveness of aromatherapy use. Periodic assessments should be performed to validate mitigation of caregiver stress.

Identifier

SC 11.DNP.2022.Campbell.S

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