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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A R C H 2 0 1 5
S U R G E O N S ' L O U N G E
Q
uestions and disagreements about who should — and who
shouldn't —administer propofol aren't likely to go away
soon, with some still suggesting that RNs should be allowed
to administer propofol under the supervision of gastroenterologists.
Perhaps it's a good time to review the concerns that have led the FDA
and anesthesia providers to strongly reject nurse-administered propo-
fol.
1. When trained anesthesia professionals administer propofol and
monitor patients, gastroenterolo-
gists can focus
on the procedure
at hand. Directed
propofol adminis-
tration by RNs
would require GI
docs to play an
even more active
role in observing
and monitoring
patients.
2. Anesthesia profes-
sionals deal frequently
with adverse reactions
to propofol and air-
way management
issues. They're
trained to recognize
5 Arguments Against RN-Administered Propofol
P U S H I N G P R O P O F O L