This book provides all the key information for developing a thorough understanding of the concepts of IV conscious sedation. Fully detailedsections include basic concepts of medications, administration techniques, potential complications and emergencies, monitoring parameters, developing a credentialing program, legal implications, and patient discharge. The text is designed with practical implementations to the clinical setting, including useful information such as sample documentation forms, learner feedback and question and answer sections. * Traces the evolution of conscious sedation from the realm of the anesthetist to non-anesthesia providers. * Provides an overview of the objectives of conscious sedation, levels of sedation and patient selection. * Profiles commonly used conscious sedation drugs, outlining pharmacokinetics, dosage and administration, contraindications and precautions, adverse reactions and nursing implications. * Includes thorough preprocedure, intraprocedure, and postprocedure patient assessment with complete discharge and patient teaching information. * Profiles high risk patients and addresses management of neurologic, pulmonary, and cardiovascular complications. * Addresses competency issues and provides guidelines on setting institutional policies and standards on conscious sedation, including many sample forms from a variety of health care settings. * Includes a separate chapter on pediatric sedation covering patient selection, medication dosage and adminstration, and physical and psychological responses specific to that population.