Sedation Management
Over-sedation in mechanically ventilated patients is common issues in a critical care setting. According to findings by Wøien, Vaerøy, Aamodt, and Bjørk (2012), as much as "30-60% of intensive care patients receive periods of prolonged sedation" (p. 1552). Also, deep sedation was associated with an "increase in mortality, prolonged mechanical ventilation, and increased intensive care unit length of stay" (DAS-Taskforce, 2015). Current literature generates a level of personal interest and clinical significance to nursing practice. When there are care rendering practices nurses can do to improve outcomes for patients, a deeper understanding of the related processes needs to be explored.
In our clinical setting, a sedation
…show more content…
According to Davies (2011), "identifying an answerable question is the most difficult part of evidence-based practice" (p. 75). Therefore, with a small portion of the current body of knowledge related to sedation management, the next questions of significant unknowns came to mind. Even though, it would seem easier to do the research first to gain a better understanding of the known facts. However, this would lead to a report of the research. As a result, a deeper investigation needed to be accomplished to learn about clinical issues surrounding sedation management. According to research by Wøien and Bjørk (2012), nurses do not consistently practice SATs consistently. Their findings suggested there were assessment tools available and nurses reported using both "personal experience and clinical judgment" in their daily routines (p. 133). Therefore, these variances can lead to inconsistencies in best practice. As a result, a comprehensive investigation into the influence of the nurse 's individual level of sedation management knowledge needs to be uncovered to promote recommended practices.
Research Question Appraisal
Why are patients over sedated? Are there tools in place to help monitor a patient 's tolerance and response to sedation? What are the barriers to following recommended best practices? Does the level of individual nurse skill set influence the compliance of sedation weaning? Do nurses have the necessary knowledge required to manage sedation? Some questions have surfaced. The unknown factor in this problem lies in the translation and perhaps the knowledge level of each nurse. Therefore, this research question will focus on the competency of the nurse.