College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

Summer 8-21-2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Julia Feczko, CRNA, DNP

Second Advisor

Joseph Szokol

Third Advisor

Joseph Tariman

Abstract

Anesthesia providers are in a position to contribute to the financial and environmental health of their institution through recycling. One of the barriers to participation in recycling by anesthesia staff as identified by the researchers of this study is a lack of convenience. Researchers sought to measure the effect of convenience on participation in recycling by anesthesia providers working in the seventeen operating room suites at NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Hospital. The researchers conducted a pilot study implementing a program to enhance the convenience of recycling. Participation, measured by weight in kilograms (kg) of recycled material, was compared pre- and post-intervention. The study demonstrated a 409% increase in recycling participation following distribution of an informational email, posting of recyclable materials in each room, and placement of convenient recycling receptacle on each anesthesia cart. Paired t-test for total material collected as well as for average waste per case collected in the preand post-intervention periods revealed statistically significant results. Convenient placement of a receptacle for recycling is positively correlated with an increase in recycling participation among anesthesia providers at this institution.

SLP Collection

yes

Included in

Nursing Commons

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