Spontaneous Awakening Trials and Spontaneous Breathing Trials

This continuing education program is accredited and can be taken for either CE accreditation or general learning. If taken for credit, this course provides one contact hour for nurses (California Board of Nursing), RTs (American Association of Respiratory Care), EMS professionals (CAPCE), and CRNAs (American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, B Credit).

Learning Objectives

The continuous administration of sedatives may increase the duration of mechanical ventilation, increase intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital lengths of stay and contribute to adverse outcomes. Spontaneous awakening trials (SATs) are the daily process of discontinuing sedatives including narcotics if the patient meets predetermined criteria. The goal of SATs is to minimize the amount of sedation patients receive while maintaining comfort in order to improve patient outcomes.  Spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) determine readiness for liberation from mechanical ventilation by allowing a patient who meets predetermined criteria to breathe spontaneously independent of significant ventilator assistance. In this course, we will review the following concepts:

• Describe the evidence that demonstrates the role of spontaneous awakening trials (SATs) in the full integration of the ABCDEF bundle for maximizing patient outcomes.
• Describe the evidence that demonstrates the need for spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) as part of the full integration of the ABCDEF bundle for maximizing patient outcomes.
• List the components of the SAT safety screening and protocol.
• Explain the components of the SBT safety screening and protocol.
• Implement evidence-based strategies during SATs & SBTs to enhance patient readiness for liberation from mechanical ventilation.