Incorporating music into the surgical environment.

Responsibility for patient comfort has always been the concern of the nurse. Conscious sedation and or local anesthesia are commonly becoming the primary method of anesthesia for a variety of outpatient plastic surgical procedures. These surgical methods require the nurse to become aware of nonchemical adjuncts that can assist in providing a safe comfortable atmosphere for the patients. Furthermore, many patients now request nonchemical adjuncts for anxiolysis and sedation as well as for analgesia in the surgical suite. This article will provide the nurse with a basic overview of one such alternative, music, including a brief historical review, relevant research, and guidelines for use of music with the operative client.