Differences in Pediatric Non-Interventional Radiology Procedural Sedation Practices and Adverse Events by Registered Nurses and Physicians

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine differences in sedation-related adverse events according to the type of provider monitoring and delivering sedation. Design and MethodsA retrospective, cross-sectional, correlational design using secondary data from the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium database was used for this study. ResultsA sample of 36,352 cases (0–14 years of age) sedated and monitored for diagnostic radiology procedures by three types of providers (registered nurses [RNs] alone, physicians (MDs) alone, or registered nurse + physician [RN+MD sedation teams]) were compared. Patients sedated by RNs alone or MDs alone had lower odds of unanticipated adverse events (odds ratios 0.46 and 0.53, respectively; p<0.0001) compared with RN+MD sedation provider teams. ConclusionsTeam skills may be an important competency for RN+MD sedation teams in the non-interventional radiology setting. Practice ImplicationsThis study can inform clinicians, administrators, and quality-improvement managers of the differences in adverse event outcomes of pediatric radiology procedures when RN+MD teams provide sedation compared with RNs or MDs alone.