Which is a GOAL of sedation?

• A. Provide comfort during stressful times
• B. Maximize staff workload
• C. Increase patient risk
• D. Delay recovery

Answer: (A)

Sedation aims to relieve distress and provide comfort during stressful times, by dampening agitation and anxiety and easing pain so the patient is calm and easier to care for. This helps patients tolerate procedures, sleep better, and reduce the physiological stress of illness. The other ideas—maximizing staff workload, increasing patient risk, or delaying recovery—do not align with the purpose of sedation, which is to minimize suffering and support safe, humane care. In practice, sedation is used with careful dosing and regular reassessment to achieve comfort with the least risk.