SPEAK UP: ANESTHSIA AND SEDATION 1
NR 224
Speak Up: Anesthesia and Sedation
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR 224 - Fundamentals: Skills
Introduction
On June 14th, The Joint Commission added and updated one of their Speak Up brochures.
This brochure includes useful information regarding anesthesia and sedation. The information
includes numerous easy to understand definitions, recommendations, and instructions regarding
anesthesia and sedation with surgeries/procedures. Although this brochure seems to be aimed
toward adult clients, the information provided is a good base to help in the understanding of
anesthesia and sedation.
Summary
Anesthesia and sedation are among one of the most important things to understand when
preparing for a procedure. Anesthesia is a state of a controlled temporary loss of sensation and
awareness and sedation is the depression of awareness and response to external stimuli becomes
limited. Sedation is achieved by one category/class of drugs and may be used with anesthesia
(The Joint Commission, 2020). In a sedative state, the patient can maintain their respiratory
functioning, their muscles become relaxed. One thing to keep in mind is that there are three
different types of anesthesia regional, local, and general. A regional anesthetic is used to produce
the loss of feeling in a specific region, typically in the spot that requires surgery. A local
anesthetic blocks nerve impulses in a localized/small area and a general anesthetic are
medications that induce and can maintain a state of unconsciousness (The Joint Commission,
NR 224
Speak Up: Anesthesia and Sedation
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR 224 - Fundamentals: Skills
Introduction
On June 14th, The Joint Commission added and updated one of their Speak Up brochures.
This brochure includes useful information regarding anesthesia and sedation. The information
includes numerous easy to understand definitions, recommendations, and instructions regarding
anesthesia and sedation with surgeries/procedures. Although this brochure seems to be aimed
toward adult clients, the information provided is a good base to help in the understanding of
anesthesia and sedation.
Summary
Anesthesia and sedation are among one of the most important things to understand when
preparing for a procedure. Anesthesia is a state of a controlled temporary loss of sensation and
awareness and sedation is the depression of awareness and response to external stimuli becomes
limited. Sedation is achieved by one category/class of drugs and may be used with anesthesia
(The Joint Commission, 2020). In a sedative state, the patient can maintain their respiratory
functioning, their muscles become relaxed. One thing to keep in mind is that there are three
different types of anesthesia regional, local, and general. A regional anesthetic is used to produce
the loss of feeling in a specific region, typically in the spot that requires surgery. A local
anesthetic blocks nerve impulses in a localized/small area and a general anesthetic are
medications that induce and can maintain a state of unconsciousness (The Joint Commission,
