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Julianna Sommers

ISM-Fall 2018
Mrs. Click
The information in this
PowerPoint has information
from outside sources that are
cited at the conclusion of this
PowerPoint.
Joel Cavazos RN

Education:
-B.S in criminal justice
-ADN in nursing
-Currently receiving his BSN

PACU nurse

Mentorship site: Memorial


Hermann Southeast
Independent study mentorship (ISM) is a course designed
for students who are ready to study a profession in a
business setting under the guidance of a mentor. With the
mentor and teacher, the student creates a unique plan of
study.

Requirements: -3 hours a week


-complete a journal every week about your experience at
mentorship.
-Complete assignments leading up to final presentation.
My project topic is for this semester is
waste anesthetic gasses in the post
anesthesia care unit. I chose this topic to
inform everyone about the daily risks PACU
nurses face. This topic is fascinating to me
because it could impact me in the future in
my career.
❑ Gasses in the operating
room

❑ Who is at risk of exposure

❑ The risk of exposure

❑ Symptoms of WAG
exposure

❑ How to reduce the risk of


exposure
❑ Medical Air- Clean supply
of compressed air.
❑ Carbon Dioxide
❑ Nitrogen
❑ Nitrous Oxide
❑ Halothane
❑ Enflurane
❑ Isoflurane
❑ Desflurane
❑ Sevoflurane.
❑ Any medical professional who is present in the
OR.

❑ Risk also extends to PACU nurses.

❑ The risks are not limited to the gasses in the


OR, but patients still breathing out the gasses
while in the PACU.

❑ Patients are still exhaling anesthesia 30-45


mins post-procedure.

❑ Nurses who work a full shift on a Friday, will


still be exhaling anesthesia the following
Monday.
❑ There is a risk of exposure due to the
inability to safely vent out the gasses in the
OR and PACU.

❑ Leaks in anesthesia systems could create


a larger risk.

❑ OSHA has suggestions instead of laws in


place.

❑ The recommended exposure limit for nitrus


oxide is 25ppm
❑ Symptoms: Headache,
irritability, fatigue, nausea,
difficulty with judgement and
coordination and Liver and
kidney disease.

❑ WAG exposure is associated


with miscarriages, genetic
disorders and cancer.

❑ In other studies, some did not


experience any health
complications, which means we
need more research.
❑ Invest in a unit to recycle anesthetic gasses.

❑ Use a mask system that uses suction to remove all


gasses.

❑ Prevent leaks in anesthesia equipment.

❑ Invest in improved ventilation systems.


❑ Chemicals used in the Post anesthesia care unit are deadlier and
more potent than carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

❑ Nitrus oxide has a higher global warming potential than carbon


dioxide.

❑ The U.S has no regulations on the gasses that hospitals emit.

❑ Recycled anesthetics would cost around $50,000 for just one unit
to recycle the gasses.

❑ OSHA is currently trying to find ways to reduce air pollution.


For my product I will be
creating a tri-fold
poster board about the
ways of exposure and
pictures showing
exposure of the
gasses.
Throughout the semester I was fortunate
enough to learn about the emergency room
and the PACU. I learned about all the
procedures post-surgery. This experience
has been great, and I loved learning about
everything.
I would like to say thank you to my mentor for
allowing me to shadow him this semester and
teaching me everything he has taught me. Thank you
to my evaluators for taking the time to come and
grade my presentation. I would also like to thank my
parents for always believing in me, and always
pushing me to do my best. Lastly, I would like to thank
Mrs. Click for accepting me into this program and
allowing me to learn more about my future career.
❑ “CEArticle.” Identifying and Treating Postanesthesia Emergencies | CE Article | NursingCenter,
www.nursingcenter.com/cearticle?an=01271211-201511000-
00007&Journal_ID=682710&Issue_ID=3240379.

❑ Luo, Jie, and Su Min. “Postoperative Pain Management in the Post-anesthesia Care Unit: an Update.” Journal of Pain
Research, Dove Medical Press, 16 Nov. 2017,www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5695271/.

❑ Chapman, George Williams, Ana-Lisa Ramirez, et al. “Exposure of Nurses in the PACU to Waste Anesthetic Gas - A
Pilot Study.” The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology, Internet Scientific Publications, 1 Aug. 2014,
ispub.com/IJA/33/1/19060.

❑ Wetsman, Nicole. “Hospitals Are Scrambling to Solve Their Air Pollution Issue.” Popular Science, 30 Nov. 2017,
www.popsci.com/anesthesia-greenhouse-gas.

❑ “UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration,


www.osha.gov/SLTC/wasteanestheticgases/.

❑ Chest Drainage Systems,


www.teleflex.com/en/usa/productAreas/respiratory/productGroups/oxygenTherapy/products/isogard-
mask/wag.html.

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