Quality improvement (QI) projects provide structured opportunities to test new approaches, measure outcomes, and identify strategies that make a lasting difference. QI’s are necessary to ensure safe and consistent care, to promote accountability and learning, to meet accreditation and regulatory requirements, as well as to advance professional nursing practice. One area gaining attention in QI initiatives is the use of clinical aromatherapy.
Why Aromatherapy in Quality Improvement?
Aromatherapy, when used in a clinical setting, is more than just a pleasant aroma. Research has shown that using 100% pure essential oils can help ease patient anxiousness, support relaxation during pain, create a more calming environment, and help with queasiness.
These effects have direct connections to many common QI goals, such as:
- Reducing patient anxiousness before, during, or after procedures
- Improving patient satisfaction scores (HCAHPS, Press Ganey, etc.)
- Alleviating queasiness while reducing antiemetics
- Decreasing PACU discharge time
- Supporting staff well-being and reducing workplace stress
Because QI projects are designed to measure results, aromatherapy can be incorporated in a way that captures both patient and staff feedback, as well as potential impacts on workflow and outcomes.
How Aromatherapy Can Be Integrated
Clinical aromatherapy can be implemented in a variety of care areas, making it adaptable to different project focuses. Examples include:
- Offering aromatherapy as a comfort measure in pre-op, imaging, or infusion centers.
- Providing patients with aromatherapy during wait times to help ease anxiousness and stress.
- Introducing aromatherapy for staff in wellness rooms to support resilience and emotional well-being.
The Role of Elequil Aromatabs®
Elequil Aromatabs® aromatherapy provides a safe, consistent, and easy-to-use option for incorporating aromatherapy into clinical environments. Because Elequil Aromatabs are wearable, hands-free, and single-patient use, they can be seamlessly integrated into quality initiatives without adding to staff workload or requiring complex protocols.
Many organizations have already explored aromatherapy within QI projects and found meaningful improvements in both patient and staff experiences. Elequil Aromatabs can be a helpful partner in these efforts by offering a practical, evidence-informed way to introduce aromatherapy into care settings.
Clinical Aromatherapy Helps Nurses Achieve Advanced Degrees
Many nursing programs for advanced degrees, such as DNP, MSN, and BSN, require a quality improvement project in order to graduate.
Beekley Medical is a resource for these nurses to help with their QI projects using aromatherapy. We work with students by offering complimentary products if their application is approved upon review. Support tools and templates are available to support their initiative with patient and staff informational brochures, protocols, surveys, and other resources.
At times, the collaboration extends even further, where Beekley Medical partners with the nursing professional to develop a white paper following the presentation and submission of their advanced-degree project.
Moving Forward with a QI Project
If you or your team is planning a quality improvement project, consider whether aromatherapy could align with your goals. Even small pilot programs can yield valuable insights into patient preferences and staff engagement, while contributing to a more supportive care environment.
Contact us at info@beekley.com and mention your interest in using Elequil Aromatabs aromatherapy for a QI project.
Related articles:
Supporting Patient Comfort in Critical Care with Elequil Aromatabs Aromatherapy
Comfort in Care: Transforming Opioid Treatment Environments with Elequil Aromatabs
The True Cost of Not Using Clinical Aromatherapy in Patient Care
The Silent Emergency: Tackling Workplace Stress in Healthcare with Innovation and Empathy
Megan Sargalski
Marketing Communications Specialist
