AROMATHERAPY FOR REDUCING HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED STRESS AMONG NURSES AND PATIENTS

Abstract

This paper examines the research-to-practice gap pertaining to aromatherapy treatment. Aromatherapy is an established technique for reducing stress, however, there is a lack of guidance on how this treatment can be utilized in clinical settings. In-patient acute care settings are recognized as some of the most high-stress environments in healthcare. High levels of stress have negative consequences for patient recovery, patient satisfaction, healthcare worker job performance, and organizational finances and reputation. Aromatherapy is an integrative modality that can be used to mitigate the issue of healthcare-associated stress. This paper examines the most current research on aromatherapy interventions, specifically those performed in high-acuity, inpatient settings. The most significant and consistent findings from the literature are presented in the form of best practice recommendations, which are further combined with expert recommendations to create a practical clinical aromatherapy protocol. To aid organizations in examining the benefits and feasibility of implementing an aromatherapy clinical protocol, this paper also reviews an empirical framework for employing the protocol in clinical practice.