The Nursing Experience of Chemical Sedation in the Elderly
Graduation Date
1-2007
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Nursing
Department or Program Chair
Barbara Ganley, PhD
Thesis Advisor
Barbara Ganley, PhD, RN, HNC
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the emotions nurses experience when they chemically sedate an elderly patient with haloperidol. Eight experienced registered nurses with interviewed with open-ended questions that asked them to describe a behavioral crisis in an elderly patient and it’s culmination in giving haloperidol intramuscularly. They were then asked to describe their emotions regarding the event and how it affected their nursing practice. Their comments were grouped into two common themes identified as nurses who perceive chemical sedation as a solution and nurses who perceive chemical sedation as a failure.
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