Rapid sequence induction anaesthesia: A guide for nurses in the emergency department

Armstrong, Bruce; Reid, Cliff; Heath, Peter; Simpson, Howard; Kitching, John; Nicholas, Justin; Chan, Louisa; Taylor, John; Rush, Helen

doi:10.1016/j.ienj.2008.11.009

« Previous Next »International Emergency Nursing
Volume 17, Issue 3 , Pages 161-168, July 2009

Rapid sequence induction anaesthesia: A guide for nurses in the emergency department

Bruce Armstrong (Consultant Nurse)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital Trust, Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke RG24 9NA, UK
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 1256 314731.
Cliff Reid (Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital Trust, Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke RG24 9NA, UK
Peter Heath (Consultant Anaesthetist)
- Queen Alexander Hospital, Portsmouth, UK
Howard Simpson (Consultant in Emergency Medicine)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital Trust, Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke RG24 9NA, UK
John Kitching (Consultant in Emergency Medicine)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital Trust, Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke RG24 9NA, UK
Justin Nicholas (Consultant in Emergency Medicine)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital Trust, Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke RG24 9NA, UK
Louisa Chan (Locum Consultant in Emergency Medicine)
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital Trust, Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke RG24 9NA, UK
John Taylor (Lead Clinical Educator)
- Emergency Division, Department of Emergency Medicine, North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke, UK
Helen Rush (Head of Nursing)
- Emergency Division, Department of Emergency Medicine, North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke, UK

Received 23 January 2008; received in revised form 1 November 2008; accepted 24 November 2008.

Abstract

Emergency rapid sequence induction (RSI) anaesthesia is the cornerstone of emergency airway management performed on patients in the emergency department (ED). The Royal College of Anaesthetists has stated that anaesthesia should not proceed without a skilled, dedicated assistant. It is essential that ED nurses are educated, skilled and competent to assist with RSI in the ED.