Development of a sedation scoring protocol

The creation of a research and development post within the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) environment at St Helier has provided the opportunity to review all aspects of practice to ensure that the care delivered is evidence-based and not merely rooted in routines and rituals. The first aspect of care to be examined was our sedation practice. It was felt that sedation procedures varied at times and that a research-based protocol was necessary to ensure that patients receive optimal levels of sedation consistently. A 'sedation scoring group' was set up in order to achieve this. Questionnaires were sent to all members of staff and the resulting data used to formulate a sedation scoring system and algorithm as well as a protocol which included information on sedative drugs and the effects of over- and under-sedating patients.