Favorable Outcomes After Implementing a Nurse-Driven Sedation Protocol

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Continuous infusions of sedative and analgesic medications are used in the ICU to manage pain, agitation, and delirium or to allow for mechanical ventilation and other procedures. The SCCM PADIS guidelines recommend using the least amount of medication needed to achieve light sedation and suggest using an assessment-driven, protocol-based approach to manage pain and sedation in critically ill adults. This QI research project was completed to reduce exposure to sedative and analgesic medications by implementing a nurse-driven protocol.

Objectives

List three impacts of sedation protocols on clinical outcomes in critically ill patients.
Outline two interventions of a nurse-driven sedation protocol.
Analyze the changes to medication usage from before to after protocol implementation.

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.