Pain, Agitation, and Delirium Management Flashcards

Which validated tool is recommended by the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) for assessing pain in non-verbal ICU patients?

Answer: Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS)

The Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) is a validated tool for assessing pain in non-verbal, mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

A RASS score of -2 indicates which level of sedation?

Answer: Moderate sedation — movement or eye opening without eye contact

A RASS of -2 indicates light sedation, where the patient briefly awakens (eye opening and contact) to voice for less than 10 seconds.

The SCCM PADIS guidelines recommend which target RASS level for most mechanically ventilated ICU patients?

Answer: 0 to -2

PADIS guidelines recommend a target RASS of 0 to -2 (light sedation) to promote earlier liberation from mechanical ventilation and reduce delirium.

Which assessment tool is considered the gold standard for detecting ICU delirium in mechanically ventilated patients?

Answer: Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU)

The CAM-ICU is the gold-standard validated tool for diagnosing delirium in ICU patients, including those on mechanical ventilation.

Which non-pharmacological intervention is a first-line strategy to prevent and treat ICU delirium?

Answer: Early mobility and physical therapy

Early mobility and physical therapy are first-line non-pharmacological strategies proven to reduce the incidence and duration of ICU delirium.

A patient on a propofol infusion develops hypertriglyceridemia, metabolic acidosis, and cardiac dysfunction. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

Answer: Propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS)

Propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS) is a rare but life-threatening complication characterized by metabolic acidosis, hypertriglyceridemia, rhabdomyolysis, and cardiac failure.