Awake Self–Prone Positioning: Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitalized patients developed severe hypoxemic respiratory failure. Prone positioning is a known evidence-based therapeutic intervention for acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS. Several publications early on during COVID-19 suggested awake self-prone positioning (ASPP) as an intervention where alert patients could be directed to safely prone themselves and improve their oxygenation early during their hypoxemic respiratory failure. Patients undergoing ASPP could not only be cared for in an ICU but also in non-ICU units.

Objectives

Identify three patient criterion for awake self-prone positioning in a patient with COVID-19.
Analyze two barriers to awake self-prone positioning compliance in a patient population with COVID-19.
List two important caveats to be aware of when implementing a new therapeutic intervention with rapidly evolving evidence during a pandemic.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must attend/view/read the entire activity and complete the associated evaluation to be awarded the contact hours or CERP. No partial credit will be awarded.

Disclosure

This activity has been reviewed by the Nurse Planner. It has been determined that the material presented here shows no bias. No conflicts of interest have been identified for any individual with the ability to influence the content of this activity. Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN or ANCC approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC's) Commission on Accreditation, ANCC Provider Number 0012. AACN has been approved as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the California State Board of Nursing (CBRN), California Provider number CEP 1036. This activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours.

AACN programming meets the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education contact hours for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting CE to fulfill continuing education requirements.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.