Nursing Music Protocol and Postoperative Pain

Journal

Pain Management Nursing

Year

2017

Abstract

Pain has always been a major concern for patients and nurses during the postoperative period. Therapies, medicines, and protocols have been developed to improve pain and anxiety but have undesirable risks to the patient. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies have been studied but have not been applied as regular protocols in the hospital setting. Music is one type of complementary and alternative medicine therapy that has been reported to have favorable results on reducing postoperative pain, anxiety, and opioid usage. However, music lacks a protocol that nurses can implement during the perioperative process. This paper is an in-depth literature review assessing a best practice recommendation and protocol that establishes a consensus in the use of music therapy. The results suggest that music therapy may consist of calming, soft tones of 60-80 beats per minute for at least 15-30 minutes at least twice daily during the pre- and postoperative periods. It is suggested that music only be used in conjunction with standards of care and not as the primary intervention of pain or anxiety. This evidence suggests that proper use of music therapy can significantly reduce surgical pain. Implementing these protocols and allowing the freedom of nursing staff to use them may lead to greater reductions in surgical pain and anxiety and a reduction in opioid use.

Music and Health Institute Terms

Anxiety; Hospital Setting; Music Listening; Music Medicine; Pain; Postoperative Pain; Postoperative Patients; Recorded Music Listening; Surgical Patients

Indexed Terms

Nursing Care; Pain Management; Postoperative Pain; Postoperative Period

Study Type

Editorials, Opinions, Position Papers

PubMed ID

29153918

Document Type

Article

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