I don't have experience in the context of the dental clinic, but I will add that I spent years as a pediatric ICU nurse in PICUs in 2 different states and the RNs did manage propofol drips in ICU patients, but it was a scope of practice allowance ONLY in the ICU setting in mechanically ventilated patients. This is likely an unsafe practice in an outpatient dental clinic, but outside of the opinions in this group, this really should be a question directly to you state board of nursing. Our system's propofol policy has direct verbiage from our State BON
Georgia Nursing Practice Act:
Georgia Position Statement: Administration of Propofol, Etomidate and Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
Procedural Sedation It is not within the scope of practice of the registered nurse (RN) who is not a Certified
Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to administer agents used primarily as anesthetics for sedation, including
Propofol (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists – American Society of Anesthesiologists Joint Statement
Regarding Propofol Administration, 2004). This would include the non-intubated patient undergoing procedures,
including but not limited to, invasive cardiology, invasive radiology, endoscopic gastrointestinal procedures,
invasive bronchoscopy and emergent procedures.
Intubated and Mechanically Ventilated Patients in Critical Care Settings It is within the scope of practice for the
registered nurse (RN) to administer intravenous Propofol to the intubated, mechanically ventilated patient in
continuous and bolus dosing, for ongoing sedation/analgesia within the Critical Care setting.
------------------------------
Brandy Williamson MSN RN CPN
Director, Ambulatory Nursing, Quality and Education
Children's Healthcare-Atlanta
Atlanta GA
(404)785-8978
brandy.williamson@choa.org------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 04-24-2024 14:38
From: Tanya Moore-Murray
Subject: Propofol Drips in Dental Clinic
Good afternoon,
Does anyone manage an ambulatory dental clinic? The MD's in my facility wants our nurses to manage a propofol drip for the patients.
I don't think this is in their scope of practice.
Tanya Moore-Murray MPH, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM
Assistant Director of Nursing
Ambulatory Children's & Women's Health Services
Office-(718) 918-5447
Cell – (646) 526-2152
Fax – (718) 918-6787
Visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org
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