Every Breath You Take: End-Tidal CO2 (EtCO2): A Strategy to Monitor Ventilation and Perfusion

Activity Summary

Required reading for all learners: Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes

End-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) monitoring is routinely used during mechanical ventilation, procedural sedation and resuscitation. To facilitate safe care, nurses must have a good understanding of this monitoring method. This introductory session explores the physiology of ventilation and perfusion and the use of EtCO2 monitoring to evaluate physiological status. Real-time patient simulation is applied to explore EtCO2 waveforms. National guidance and care considerations are discussed.

Objectives

Explain the physiology associated with ventilation and perfusion and the role of EtCO2 monitoring to evaluate these elements.
Describe the components of normal and abnormal EtCO2 waveforms/trends, and their clinical significance in a variety of clinical settings.
Outline the national guidance, patient care recommendations and safety considerations for all patients receiving EtCO2 monitoring.

Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

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

Accreditation

The 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 1.00 contact hours.

Disclosure

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

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

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.