Investigating nurses’ perceptions of their role in managing sedation in intensive care: An exploratory study

Role of organisational structure in implementation of sedation protocols: a comparison of Canadian and French ICUs

“…For example, although nurses' perceptions are generally supportive of sedation protocols,15 variation in sedation management may be related to ethical conflicts,16 confidence and experience of individual nurses,17 18 and influence of patients' family members 19. Interestingly, access for family members to visit patients tends to be greater in North American ICUs than in French ICUs (personal communication).…”

Towards a Standardized Approach for Critical Care Nursing Practices: Development of Evidence Based Analgo-Sedation Guidelines for Adult Mechanically Ventilated Patients

“…[13] An important part of nursing care in the ICU is providing proper sedation for patients receiving MV and providing patient's comfort without coma. [14] Sedation and pain relief require not only interdisciplinary assessment and decision-making, but also independent assessment and decision-making by (CCNs). The CCNs play a key role in assessing patients' need of sedation, as well as determining the dosage and frequency in titrating analgesia and sedatives within prescribed limits which presents a significant challenge to them.…”

“…The CCNs play a key role in assessing patients' need of sedation, as well as determining the dosage and frequency in titrating analgesia and sedatives within prescribed limits which presents a significant challenge to them. [1,10,14] Furthermore, the use of non-pharmacological interventions (relaxation, comfortable rest in bed, removal of noise, repeated information in short form, the presence of significant others, light, music and mobilization) are essential for patient's safety and comfort, and therefore constitute a major part of the CCNs' work. Since analgesics and sedatives in ICUs are drugs with potentially serious side effects, nurses bear a large responsibility in maintaining and developing the quality of pain treatment and sedation.…”

Actigraphy: Analyzing patient movement

“…5 Tools currently in use include direct observations and intermittent structured assessments by nurses and other care providers, but these are limited by the experience levels of the assessors and do not provide a continuous measure of activity or agitation. 12,13 An appropriate continuous measurement of levels of patient agitation, particularly in the critically ill, is clinically important to optimize titration of sedatives, reduce patient harm, and improve patient outcomes. 3,4,14,15 …”