Conclusion

In many ways, TIEO use is developing along the same lines as inhalational anesthetics. Like essential oils, inhaled anesthetics had far earthier origins then gleaming modern laboratories. In the 1500s, a botanist mixing ethanol with sulfuric acid inadvertently produced the first form of ether, noting that it caused chickens to fall asleep (70). Subsequently, Ether has been studied and significantly chemically refined, and now in a halogenated form, is safely administered via precise delivery systems in operating rooms throughout the world. The exact mechanism of action has not yet been identified, yet providers are satisfied by the observation that when patients inhale enough, they are sufficiently “asleep” for surgical intervention, and “awake” after the gas is turned off. Much like inhalational anesthesia, as the body of knowledge about TIEO grows, confidence and expertise in its use in healthcare will grow along with it.

The genuine desire of nurses to alleviate their patients’ discomfort has made them the earliest and most passionate champions of TIEO. While they may never know precisely how it works at the cellular level, they do know what they can see; TIEO provides real relief for their patients’ discomfort; safely, quickly and naturally.

In conclusion, it is hoped that this course will help nurses successfully introduce TIEO into the healthcare setting by providing the evidence based information needed to credibly communicate its benefits, safely select and utilize the appropriate TIEO products, and provide a mechanism for outcome measurement that will allow assessment of its efficacy and contribution to quality improvement.