How to Peer Review an RN Performing Moderate Sedation: Q&A With Nancy Jo Vinson of NJM Consulting

Nancy Jo Vinson, RN, BA, CASC, of NJM Consulting recently joined the consulting team of Healthcare Consultants International, a subsidiary of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care.

Q: Thank you for the recent article on “Peer Review: 10 Things to Know.” I am betting that many managers do not know that an RN should have peer review if they perform moderate sedation. We do annual moderate sedation competency testing and education but do not actually do a peer review process. Are there any policies or sample peer review forms to achieve this?

Nancy Jo Vinson: As stated in the article, peer review of personnel may be provided for through competencies and/or evaluations. The intent is to be able to have other peer providers who are privileged to provide the same task (i.e., moderate sedation) evaluate (peer review) one another (optimal). If the center only has one provider/nurse providing moderate sedation, then a physician/surgeon may perform peer review on the RN that provides moderate sedation (just like the anesthesiologist who performs peer review of the CRNAs).

One tool that can be utilized is clinical record review for RNs who are approved to provide moderate sedation. It should be remembered that clinical record review is only one component and as an employee, other areas include but are not limited to adhering to center policies and procedures that would include what is required of the RN approved for moderate sedation.

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