Credentialing Process for Nurse Providers of Moderate Sedation

Nurses provide medications for moderate sedation in many settings in accordance with state nurse practice acts. Providing safe quality care requires skilled assessment and monitoring of levels of sedation and the ability to rescue. As part of professional accountability and responsibility, nurses must keep abreast of changes in standards as disseminated by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, The Joint Commission, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and nursing organizations. Institutional bylaws, policies, procedures, protocols, rules, and regulations are based on standards of regulatory bodies and professional organizations. This article summarizes current information related to maintaining nursing credentials to provide moderate sedation.