Ventilator-Associated Events: Bigger than Just Preventing Pneumonia

More than a quarter of a million patients in the United States receive mechanical ventilation each year, putting them at risk for increased mortality related to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, among other lung injuries. How can we prevent these ventilator-associated events (VAE)? Pain/sedation/delirium management, oral care, ventilator setting, early removal of the ventilator, and progressive mobility have all been shown to have a significant impact on outcomes of patients receiving mechanical ventilation. This course will explore the evidence around implementation of the ABCDEF bundle to reduce both short- and long-term negative consequences of mechanical ventilation and the ICU. This course content is applicable to nurses and other health care professionals who work with patients in acute care, rehabilitation, and long-term care settings.