Letting the Patient Decide: A Case Report of Sedative Self-Administration During Mechanical Ventilation

Letting the Patient Decide: A Case Report of Sedative Self-Administration During Mechanical Ventilation is organized by American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

Expires: Feb 01, 2021

Accreditation:
This activity is approved for 1.00 contact hours.

Summary:
This article depicts a case study of one patient who used self-administered dexmedetomidine which was very well tolerated, provided relaxation and comfort, which resulted in positive remarks from the patient. The clinical course of this patient suggests that dexmedetomidine helped manage individually perceived anxiety in a way that allowed the patient to remain alert, realizing the goal of early extubation and postsurgical recovery.

Objectives:
• Describe the current clinical practice guidelines recommendations for the administration of sedation during critical illness.
• Explain why dexmedetomidine is the ideal drug for the self-administration of sedation.
• Identify two physiologic parameters that are important to monitor during the self-administration of dexmedetomidine.