Practice Patterns in Spontaneous Awakening and Breathing Trials in the Intensive Care Unit

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

Spontaneous awakening trials (SATs) and spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) are evidence-based practices (EBPs) that evaluate a patient’s readiness to breathe without ventilatory support by pausing sedative infusions and initiating a trial of a low-support, spontaneous breathing ventilator mode. When successfully implemented, SATs and SBTs are linked to improved patient outcomes, including longer duration of unassisted breathing, shorter hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays, and reduced mortality up to 1 year after ICU discharge. Despite the strength of evidence, implementation has been variable, as evidenced by international prospective studies indicating wide SAT/SBT practice variation. Our academic medical center demonstrated a need for investigating and quantifying practice patterns regarding spontaneous awakening and breathing trials. This quality improvement project used champion-based education and electronic health record data to quantify practice patterns.

Objectives

Evaluate unmeasured practice patterns underlining barriers to the successful implementation spontaneous awakening and breathing trials.
Explain the critical nature of interprofessional collaboration and common cultural barriers associated with ventilator liberation.
Discuss and explore the benefits and challenges to implementing practice change as it relates to patient outcomes in the ICU

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Criteria for Awarding Contact Hours

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for {contactHours} contact hours.

Disclosures

The Nurse Planner has determined that no individuals with the ability to control content of this activity have relevant relationships with ineligible companies.

Activities with pharmacotherapeutic credit are to assist the APRN in fulfilling their education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.