The nine-to-12-week recovery time for a lumbar spinal fusion surgery patient is daunting. The grueling pain, lack of mobility and time spent at the bedside takes its toll on the mind. 

Clinical Nurse Specialist student Emily Krueger and her colleagues at Mercy Health Saint Mary's in Grand Rapids, Mich., are working to change the narrative by using virtual reality as a non-pharmacological treatment option for back surgery patients during recovery.

“Our back pain patients all have to give up something significant in life. Whether it’s not being able to pick up their grandchild, to going on a routine walk,” Krueger noted. “You get to the point where you know what causes pain, so you simply avoid it.”

With 12 years of experience as a circulating nurse in the operating room and having a previous career in computer programming, Krueger loved the work she was doing, but felt the need to take a step further in her career. For her final project in the program, Krueger hopes to create long-lasting impact through implementing and evaluating the positive effects of virtual reality.

“This project puts all of my experience to use. Our goal is to not remove opioids from post-operative care but enforce that virtual reality can serve as a great distraction,” she said, adding that at times, the use of opioids is comparable to using a sledgehammer for a project requires only a hammer. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the research project, which was made possible by a grant through Saint Mary’s Foundation, has taken awhile to start using on patients. The implementation that recently began has been met with strong satisfaction from patients.

“The patient response that we’ve been getting so far is very positive,” said Kreuger. “Our patient satisfaction is very high for the people who have been using it.”

Tracking pain scores on a scale from zero to 10 during post-operative recovery and measuring the amount of opioid use are just a few metrics that Kreuger and her team are using to measure the success of using virtual reality.

Contracted through C.A.R.E. VRx, the virtual reality headsets provide patients with an interactive, three-dimensional view of serene natural landscapes. From waterfalls to the deserts, escaping the sights and sounds of a hospital room can bring peace and distract the patient from the life-altering situation they are experiencing.

“If you’re in a hospital focused on your pain, it’s not going to help. While removing opioids isn’t feasible, the idea we have is that virtual reality can serve as a distraction,” said Krueger.

 Krueger’s patients are typically in the age range of 60 to 80, thus introducing them to innovative technology as a treatment method has been an interesting experience. “I usually start with, ‘You might’ve purchased this for a grandkid,’ but it can end with them saying, ‘Oh my gosh, this is beautiful,’” she said. 

The hope of establishing the use of virtual reality as a valid treatment option will not only benefit back surgery patients, but in all units. Rachel Catinella, MSN ’14, is a neuroscience clinical nurse specialist and preceptor at Mercy Health. She has helped guide Krueger through the project and is optimistic about what the future holds.

“Eventually, it’s something we’d like to roll out to other areas of the hospital,” said Catinella. “We think it would help in not just surgical pain units, but maybe the oncology floor and fusion centers.”

As a fellow Spartan nurse, Catinella has enjoyed precepting College of Nursing students and believes it has created a true impact on the hospital. In addition to virtual reality, projects related to cost-benefit analysis, processes and procedures are being completed.

Now that Krueger is close to completing her clinical nurse specialist degree, she is thankful to the College of Nursing for preparing her for the role. 

“The college has been amazing at finding me clinical placements,” she said. “With it being an online program, my professors have been easy to contact, and I’ve been blown away by how supported I feel.”