Nursing interventions to prevent or relieve postoperative nausea and vomiting

The purpose of this study was to identify documented interdependent and independent nursing interventions to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours following uncomplicated cholecystectomy. A systematic sampling method was used to select 40 hospital records from 1986 to 1988. Results showed that nausea and vomiting was documented in only two PACU records and nine postoperative nursing unit records. Documentation was typically brief or absent altogether. There was no way to determine if this meant no occurrence of nausea and vomiting or just that interventions were not documented. Lack of interventions may be due to a fear of potentiating the anesthesia or belief that symptoms would subside with time. Documented interventions included repositioning patients (independent) and administering medications (interdependent). This study illustrates the need for education about nurses' responsibility to prevent or relieve postoperative nausea and vomiting and the importance in documenting the interventions used.