Research Symposium Program - Individual Details
5th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 17, 2025
William Hines https://pc.fsu.edu/student-research/symposium/symposium-program-2025/dnap
BIO
Student pair William Hines and Kasey Giles seeking doctorate of nursing anesthesia practice to further our careers and scope of practice to become independent practitioners. We both had interest in finding multi-modal pain management strategies for patients undergoing anesthesia with a focus on general anesthesia cases involving abdominal and gynecological cases. As someone who has lost colleagues to opiate addiction and unintentional overdose, it is a personal passion to help minimize the amount that anesthesia providers contribute to the initial stages of the opiate addiction process.
Dexmedetomidine and Rescue Opiate Administration in the PACU
Authors: William Hines, R. Kyle Hodgen DNP, APRN, CRNA, ACNPStudent Major: Doctorate of Nurse Anesthesia Practice
Mentor: R. Kyle Hodgen DNP, APRN, CRNA, ACNP
Mentor's Department: Department of Nurse Anesthesia Mentor's College: Florida State University Co-Presenters: Kasey Giles RN
Abstract
It is well known that the opioid abuse epidemic is a major problem in public health worldwide, and more specifically, in the United States. In 2021, the CDC reported that approximately 75% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States were related to opioid use. It has also become widely accepted in the medical community that the use of dexmedetomidine in anesthesia may provide an opioid-sparing analgesic effect. Therefore, we undertook research into the potential opiate-sparing properties of dexmedetomidine for abdominal and gynecological general anesthesia cases, as well as other risks and benefits associated with its use. The research clearly showed that the use of dexmedetomidine not only could reduce the amount of opiates patients required in the postoperative period, but also showed a decreased in postoperative shivering, 24-hour pain scores, nausea, and vomiting. From this research, educational material was distributed to anesthesia professionals in an attempt to increase their willingness to use dexmedetomidine in their anesthesia practice. Providers then took part in a short, anonymous survey regarding their willingness to use dexmedetomidine in their practice in the future.
Keywords: Dexmedetomidine, Opiate-sparing, general anesthesia