Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates
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The purpose of this Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates Fellowship project was to determine whether capnography is more accurate than oximetry in identifying symptoms of respiratory depression in patients undergoing moderate sedation. Capnography provides an early warning of respiratory depression and airway compromise, especially when the medications used for sedation include opiates and benzodiazepines. ⋯ During this project, the nursing staff were educated on the importance and usage of capnography. Evidence was gathered that helped show that by using capnography, nurses were able to identify signs of respiratory depression earlier and more frequently than with the use of oximetry and cardiac monitoring alone.