Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

Fentanyl, a potent opioid analgesic, is favored in procedural sedation particularly for its analgesic properties and minimal effects on hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, making it ideal for patients who need pain control without significant compromise of respiratory or cardiovascular functions. Midazolam, though commonly used for its anxiolytic and amnesic effects, lacks analgesic properties. Ketamine, while providing excellent analgesia and maintaining airway reflexes and spontaneous breathing, often increases heart rate and blood pressure, which might not be desirable in all clinical scenarios. Propofol, providing rapid sedation and recovery, carries a risk of profound respiratory and cardiovascular depression particularly in unsupervised settings.