Date
9-2019
Department
School of Nursing
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Chair
Dorothy Murphy
Keywords
Sepsis, ‘Sepsis Alert’ Checklist, Education, Evidence-based Practice Guidelines
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing
Recommended Citation
Jun, Jean, "Sepsis Education Utilizing ‘Sepsis Alert’ Checklist to Support the Adherence of Early Management Bundle in the Emergency Department" (2019). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 2209.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2209
Abstract
Early recognition and timely management of sepsis is a priority within hospitals due to its direct impact on patients’ outcomes. It is critical for healthcare providers to be educated and aware of the signs and symptoms of sepsis. The emergency department (ED) is the forefront of the hospital where majority of patients with sepsis are assessed and either discharged or admitted into the hospital. Therefore, it is critical for ED nurses to be educated in the early signs of sepsis and follow evidence-based practice guidelines when managing these patients. The project leader implemented a sepsis education intervention aimed at clinical practice guidelines and introduced the ‘Sepsis Alert’ checklist. This checklist provided a visual guide of interventions and treatment needed for patients presenting with sepsis. A preeducation questionnaire was provided, and a post education questionnaire was completed one month after education implementation. The quality improvement nurse provided the project leader with both the mortality rate and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) early management bundle rated pre and posteducation implementation. Retrospective review of the questionnaire results indicated an increase in nurses’ knowledge of sepsis and comfort in taking care of patients with sepsis. There was also significant improvement in the adherence to CMS early management bundle rate. These findings suggest that sepsis education with utilization of a ‘Sepsis Alert’ checklist may improve the nurses’ knowledge and comfort for taking care of patients with sepsis and increase the adherence to clinical practice guidelines.
