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Sedation/Analgesia, N/IICU, Mechanically Ventilated Patient — State Behavioral Scale — Clinical Pathway: ICU and Inpatient

Sedation/Analgesia, Mechanically Ventilated Patient Clinical Pathway — N/IICU

State Behavioral Scale (SBS)

Score Description Definition
-3 Unresponsive
  • No spontaneous respiratory effort
  • No cough or coughs only with suctioning
  • No response to noxious stimuli
  • Unable to pay attention to care provider
  • Does not distress with any procedure (including noxious)
  • Does not move
-2 Responsive to Noxious Stimuli
  • Spontaneous yet supported breathing
  • Coughs with suctioning/repositioning
  • Responds to noxious stimuli
  • Unable to pay attention to care provider
  • Will distress with a noxious procedure
  • Does not move/occasional movement of extremities or shifting of position
-1 Responsive to Gentle Touch or Voice
  • Spontaneous but ineffective non-supported breaths
  • Coughs with suctioning/repositioning
  • Responds to touch/voice
  • Able to pay attention but drifts off after stimulation
  • Distresses with procedures
  • Able to calm with comforting touch or voice when stimulus removed
  • Occasional movement of extremities or shifting of position
0 Awake and Able to Calm
  • Spontaneous and effective breathing
  • Coughs when repositioned/occasional spontaneous cough
  • Responds to voice/no external stimulus is required to elicit response
  • Spontaneously pays attention to care provider
  • Distresses with procedures
  • Able to calm with comforting touch or voice when stimulus removed
  • Occasional movement of extremities or shifting of position/increased movement (restless, squirming)
+1 Restless and Difficult to Calm
  • Spontaneous effective breathing/having difficulty breathing with ventilator
  • Occasional spontaneous cough
  • Responds to voice/no external stimulus is required to elicit response
  • Drifts off/spontaneously pays attention to care provider
  • Intermittently unsafe
  • Does not consistently calm despite 5-minute attempt/unable to console
  • Increased movement (restless, squirming)
+2 Agitated
  • May have difficulty breathing with ventilator
  • Coughing spontaneously
  • No external stimulus required to elicit response
  • Spontaneously pays attention to care provider
  • Unsafe (biting ETT, pulling at lines, cannot be left alone)
  • Unable to console
  • Increased movement (restless, squirming or thrashing side-to-side, kicking legs)

 

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