Determining the appropriate treatment for some ailments, such as nausea, can be made easier with assessment scales. In this example of a scale and protocol for the treatment of nausea in adult patients, a nurse conducts a pre-treatment assessment of the patient’s level of nausea, and then the protocol directs the nurse to administer a particular medication accordingly. Exclusion criteria lay out specific situations in which the protocol medications should not be used and instead direct the nurse to contact a physician. The protocol then requires reassessment following the treatment to judge its effectiveness. Organizations developing their own protocols for nausea may find this example helpful.

This combination scale and protocol can serve as an example for organizations developing their own nausea protocols, but significant modifications will probably be necessary. In reviewing and revising this protocol for your own organization, ensure, for instance, that:

• All medications in the final protocol are available in your organization’s formulary
• Clinicians whose patients will be treated with this protocol agree with the selections, dosages, and parameters
• The orders are appropriate for the patient population

Related Measures
Percent of Patients Receiving a Specific High-Risk Medication with a Related Adverse Drug Event

Related Changes
Use Pre-Printed Orders for Chemotherapy Drugs
Use Pre-Typed Medication Records, Orders, and Flowsheets
Use Protocols and Order Sets for at Least 75 Percent of Medications