Ultrasound Guided Epidural Placement
Date
2017
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Abstract
Student registered nurse anesthetists often have a lack of knowledge and familiarity with the use of ultrasound to assist with epidural placement. The aim of this project was to educate those SRNAs with a PowerPoint presentation and demonstration to increase their knowledge and interest in using ultrasound in the future to assist with placing epidurals.
After informed consent was obtained, a convenience sample of 26 SRNAs at Adventist University of Health Sciences participated in filling out a 10 question assessment of their baseline knowledge. A PowerPoint presentation was then given to the participants as well as a live demonstration of how to find the epidural space with ultrasound. At the conclusion of the presentation, the participants were given the same 10-question test. The tests were graded and statistical analysis was completed using a paired-t test in order to determine significant outcomes.
Average test scores increased from 4.9615 to 7.3846 between pretest and posttest assessments using a 10 question test. The standard deviation of the pretest was 1.53573 and the posttest was 1.23538. The obtained t score was -6.572 with an associated p value of < .05 which is considered statistically significant.
It can be concluded that the lecture significantly increased the students’ test performance as indicated by the increase in average scores. The participants may now have a better understanding of the beneficial uses of ultrasound for epidural placement. This increase in knowledge and understanding has the potential to increase satisfaction and safety for patients in the future.
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