Date of Award
12-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Chair
Dr. Douglas Lovern
Committee Chair School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 2
Dr. Jessica Miley
Committee Member 2 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Abstract
Medical providers within the United States (U.S.) have traditionally relied on opioid medications to manage their patients' pain conditions, whether that be for acute situations such as during or after surgery, or for chronic pain syndromes. Excessive and unnecessary opioid consumption is associated with a wide range of adverse effects and consequences for patients, including delayed discharge and increased rates of readmission to the hospital. Nonpharmacological interventions such as meditation and deep breathing have demonstrated effectiveness for pain management and are worth further investigation and integration into clinical practice to bridge the gap between effective pain control and the minimization of opioid overuse. The benefits of using nonpharmacological interventions over opioids are not necessarily through improved pain management, but through the decreased consequences that narcotic use, particularly chronic use, will have on patients. The primary aim of this doctoral project is to examine Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists’ (CRNAs) knowledge and awareness of nonpharmacological interventions for postoperative pain management.
Copyright
Zackery Presnall and Keaton Ware, 2026
Recommended Citation
Presnall, Zackery and Ware, Keaton, "Meditation: The Opioid Crisis, Surgery, and the Need for Change: A Policy Proposal" (2026). Doctoral Projects. 295.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dnp_capstone/295
Included in
Anesthesiology Commons, Homeopathy Commons, Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing Commons