Outpatient Surgery: Ensuring Patient Safety in Nursing-Administered Moderate Sedation

Navigating the complexities of moderate sedation/analgesia (MSA) in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) requires a delicate balance of expertise and preparedness. As healthcare professionals, we understand the importance of ensuring patient safety and comfort during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. However, the recent surge in surgical procedures moving to ASCs, coupled with the shortage of anesthesia providers, underscores the importance of nursing administered MSA in many facilities. While this shift presents new challenges, it also highlights the pivotal role of nurses in ensuring patient safety and quality care. To support nurses in this role, AORN provides exclusive and discounted resources for its members.

Guideline Update Webinar: Delve into the latest edition of the AORN Guideline through this webinar, which focuses on the perioperative RN's responsibilities in caring for patients receiving MSA. It addresses key safety measures, age-specific assessment considerations, and opportunities for collaborative patient care.

Guideline Essentials: Access online resources designed to facilitate the application of AORN's evidence-based guidelines in your daily practice. These tools include competencies, gap analysis, case studies, key takeaways from guidelines, and more to support your entire team.

Guideline Update: Are You Anxious About Administering Anesthesia?: Recalling a personal experience, Sr. Manager of AORN's Ambulatory Surgery Division Jeanine Watson, MSN, RN, CNOR(E), CASC, shares her story of anxiety around the administration of MSA. Explore the AORN Guideline with Jeanine through this Outpatient Surgery Magazine article.

Safe Administration of Moderate Sedation: Take advantage of member discount on this newly updated course that provides an overview of the nurse's role in safe administration of moderate sedation: RN scope of practice, criteria for the eligible adult patient populations, patient monitoring, medication administration parameters, patient discharge, and strategies for managing emergencies.

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