Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2022

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Advisor

Kacy Ballard, DNP, CRNA

First Committee Member

Brian Garrett, DNP, CRNA

Second Committee Member

Greg Stockton, DNP, CRNA

Keywords

Sedation, Assessment, Education, Intensive Care, Nursing

Subject Categories

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Nursing management of sedation medications in critical care patients is a complex responsibility, and studies have shown that proper use of sedation protocols can lead to improved patient outcomes. A knowledge gap among critical care nurses in the performance of Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS) assessments was identified within a critical care unit during the 2019 annual skills day. Inaccurate RASS assessments may lead to inaccurate sedation management according to the current unit protocol and evidence from the literature, and therefore may impact patient outcomes. This project aims to improve a clinical practice within an intensive care unit. The objective is to increase the number of staff nurses who perform and score RASS assessments accurately, determine how accurate RASS assessments can impact certain patient outcomes, and to provide suggestions on how to standardize education of RASS assessments for nurses in the intensive care unit. A baseline audit was completed in the form of an in-person observation of nurses performing RASS assessments on the unit. The baseline audit revealed 36% of nurses accurately performed RASS assessments on patients. Baseline internal data was compiled that included ICU length of stay for ventilated patients, time on the ventilator, and mortality among ventilated patients. A multi-faceted education series was provided to all critical care nurses. The education series was completed in May 2021. One month following the completion of this education series, a second audit of nurses, which mirrored the first audit, was completed to determine if a change in clinical practice occurred. The post-intervention audit revealed that 60% of nurses accurately performed RASS assessments on patients. Lastly, a post-intervention assessment of ICU length of stay for ventilated patients, time on the ventilator, and mortality for ventilated patients was completed. The results showed that along with an improvement in accuracy of RASS assessments, there was also a change in patient outcomes.

Licensing Permission

Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.