Wake Me Up! It’s Time to Breathe With the ABCs

Activity Summary

A lack of standardized practice for SAT and SBT in our health network often resulted in nurses discontinuing sedation only when requested by a provider, despite a daily SAT order. A review of current unit practice revealed that, due to rounds occurring about 12-1:00 p.m., SATs were performed later in the day, leaving patients intubated until later in the afternoon. In addition, chart audits revealed escalation of sedation medications with improper RASS scoring. These factors directly impact total ventilator days, ICU and hospital length of stay, and risk of VAP/VAE. During project kickoff, our CSI team educated staff about RASS and the benefits of performing daily SATs/SBTs. At daily huddles, we identified patients eligible for SAT/SBT. The project was received positively by our peers, providers and interdisciplinary team members. We achieved a 39% decrease in total ventilator days and an 85% decrease in VAP and VAE. We also experienced two unintended positive outcomes.

Objectives

Discuss key concepts of a direct care nurse unit change project
Apply tools and methods shared in their own unit

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 {contactHours} contact hours.

Disclosures

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.