New State Nursing Sedation Rule Promotes Patient Safety and Complies with National Guidelines

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American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)

Dec 23, 2014, 09:51 ET

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Dec. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A recent rule change adopted by the state Board of Nursing outlines how nurses, under the direct supervision of physicians, are to administer procedural sedation drugs to patients. This will improve patient safety, reduce patient suffering and reduce unnecessary delays in care, according to the New Mexico chapter of the America College of Emergency Physicians (New Mexico ACEP).

"This rule is important to emergency patients who are in pain," said Dr. Eric Ketcham, president-elect of the New Mexico ACEP. "It will reduce delays in care and streamline the organization of emergency procedures. The rule change formalizes what nurses in our state have done safely for years. It improves patient safety, because it clearly delineates the nurse's role in sedating patients who are undergoing emergency procedures."

The rule is supported by ACEP's clinical policy guidelines for procedural sedation, which were supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2011. In addition, the new rule clarifies the definition of anesthetics, which has been interpreted differently by different hospitals, and provides specific requirements for nurse training/certification.

"This is good for patients, and it has the full support of emergency physicians and nurses in our state," said Dr. Ketcham. "When nurses are prevented from administering short acting sedation while monitoring the airway, together with the physician who is performing a brief procedure, such as realigning a dislocated hip or knee, emergency procedures can take longer, which can require higher doses of sedation, and patients are in pain longer."

ACEP Clinical Policy: Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in the Emergency Department: http://www.acep.org/content.aspx?id=30060).

The New Mexico Chapter of ACEP is a state chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

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SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)