A comprehensive review of current guidelines for managing patients who receive moderate sedation and analgesia in ambulatory settings.
2.2 Contact Hours for Nurses
Ambulatory Surgical Courses:
- Reprocessing Flexible Endoscopes - Policies, Practice and Compliance
Administration of Moderate Sedation and Analgesia in Ambulatory Settings: Keeping the Patient Safe
Using an Infection Control Risk Assessment to Create an Infection Control Plan for an ASC
Coming Soon .. A Primer for Designated Infection Control Managers in Ambulatory Surgical Settings
Administration of Moderate Sedation and Analgesia in Ambulatory Settings: Keeping the Patient Safe
Sedation and analgesia are frequently administered to patients in office-based and ambulatory settings to relieve the pain, discomfort and anxiety associated with diagnostic or
therapeutic procedures. Sedation and analgesia are often necessary to minimize
patient movement so that procedures can be performed safely and successfully in the
most expedient fashion. Staff who participate in procedures that require the use of
sedation and analgesic techniques must be knowledgeable of the essential
components of the process so that the benefits to the patient are maximized while risks
to patient safety are minimized. Optimal dosages of sedative and 
analgesic agents
must be carefully determined based upon patient characteristics and procedure
requirements to avoid the deleterious consequences of cardiac or respiratory
depression (i.e. hypoxic brain damage, cardiac arrest, or death).
This course is designed to provide reinforcement of recognized standards for administering moderate sedation and analgesia in ambulatory settings and to review current guidelines for safely managing and monitoring sedated patients in such settings.
The material is presented in five segments:
- The physiological effects of moderate sedation and analgesia.
- Pre-procedure patient assessment and preparation.
- Monitoring and management of patients receiving moderate sedation and analgesia.
- Pharmacology of analgesics, sedatives and antagonists used for moderate sedation of adult and pediatric patients.
- Post-procedure management and discharge of patients who received moderate sedation and analgesia.
DISCLOSURE: The course work was authored by Regina Napolitano, RN, MA, who serves as the Senior Education Consultant at Continuing Education Online (www.ProCEO.com).
This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, Inc., an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
AORN recognized this activity as continuing education for registered nurses. This recognition did not imply that AORN or the ANCC Commission on Accreditation approved or endorsed any product included in the presentation.
Target Audience
Nurses and Health Professionals in ambulatory surgical settings where patients receive moderate sedation and analgesia.
Contact Hours
2.2 Contact Hours will be awarded upon successful completion of this activity.
Purpose / Goal Of This Activity:
At the completion of this course, the health professional will be able to recognize the risks to patient safety that may occur throughout the process of administering moderate sedation and analgesia to patients in ambulatory settings.
Instructions For Completing This Course
Register for the course by clicking the link at the bottom of the page entitled REGISTER FOR COURSE. As you read through the material on the course pages, you will be occasionally prompted to answer exam questions. There is a total of 30 multiple choice questions in this course. You must achieve a grade of 80% (24 correct answers) to receive a certificate.
When you have answered the last exam question, the Course Results page will display. This page will contain your final grade and allow you to immediately print your certificate if you have scored a minimum grade of 80%. Your certificate will also be available on your Control Panel where you may print it at any time.
Course work does not need to be completed in one online session. You can log off at any point and return to the course at your convenience.
The Course Reference Page available at the completion of the course will contain many useful reference documents from notable sources pertinent to material covered in this course.
Registration Fee
The registration fee for this course is $29.00. Your registration fee includes two opportunities to pass the examination and permanent access to all reference material.
If you have any questions or concerns about this course, you may contact a Customer Service representative at 718-648-8080, or e-mail us at ceo.contact7@proceo.com.