Procedural Sedation Practice: A Review of Current Nursing Standards

Although administration of procedural sedation is a common practice among nurses, at present a unified consensus statement on Registered Nurse (RN) sedation core competencies or a consistent way in which RN sedation practice is regulated in the United States is lacking. In this article, the topic of RN sedation is discussed and includes current sedation standards by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Joint Commission. Examples of current regulations from State Boards of Nursing throughout the United States are also reviewed. Three major controversies related to RN sedation practice exist: variation in Board of Nursing regulation, lack of research on RN sedation practice, and lack of a national standard for RN sedation. Recommendations to address each of these areas are provided to inform regulators and nurse educators about current standards and knowledge gaps in sedation care. Strategies to improve sedation research in order to advance practice in this area are also discussed.