Exploring Nurses' Subjectivity on Recognizing Warning Signs in Patients Who Undergo Sedation for Endoscopy...

Most endoscopy procedures utilize moderate sedation administered by nurses, which contributes to high levels of patient and staff satisfaction. Despite its advantages, sedation can lead to various complications, including rapid physiological changes in patients, which are often accompanied by clear warning signs. By promptly recognizing and responding to these warning signs, nurses play a crucial role in delivering safe and quality care. Therefore, this study aims to gather data on how endoscopy room nurses perceive and handle sedation-related warning signals, categorize their subjective perceptions, and identify distinct characteristics. This study used Q methodology to investigate nurses' subjectivity concerning the recognition of sedation warning signs during therapeutic endoscopies. Three Q-factors emerged: (1) assuming possibilities of risks based on observations; (2) evaluating patients' capability to withstand sedation based on the mechanisms of the underlying disease; and (3) comparing patient cues to established high-risk patterns, with emphasis on prioritizing safety. This study sheds light on nurses' subjective perceptions of sedation warning signs, emphasizing the need for tailored nursing strategies and educational programs in endoscopy rooms.