Date of Graduation
Fall 12-15-2023
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
Program
MSN project
First Advisor
Theresa Mostasisa, EdD, MS, BSN, RN
Abstract
Problem: In order to lower sepsis morbidity and mortality rates through early recognition and treatment, this quality improvement project sought to raise sepsis awareness and bundle compliance within the Intensive Care Unit.
Context: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) students completed a microsystem assessment of the Intensive Care Unit at Hospital X in Northern California. This unit cares for patients with sepsis, organ failure, respiratory failure, different types of shock, acute kidney injury, and traumatic brain injury.
Interventions: The implemented intervention included a refresher huddle on sepsis bundle awareness. Though the intervention was ineffective, the students did offer recommendations to the leadership team for future consideration. The suggested solutions included equipping sepsis bundle sheets throughout the unit and frequent sepsis refresher huddles.
Measures: Following the evaluation of the microsystem, the CNL students gathered information to examine the rates of problems connected to sepsis bundle adherence. The pre-intervention survey measured the knowledge and awareness of the sepsis bundle while the post-intervention survey measured the effectiveness of the refresher meeting.
Results: Fourteen registered nurses in the ICU were surveyed for this QI project. The results revealed that 42% (n=6) of nurses surveyed were aware of the sepsis bundle, and the remaining 8 nurses were unaware. With 68% of nurses having no knowledge of the sepsis bundle, this demonstrates a need for increased sepsis bundle awareness and compliance.
Conclusion: The pre-intervention survey concluded the lack of sepsis bundle awareness and adherence. This may be due to multiple factors such as staff turnover rate and lack of sepsis protocol training. Furthering this project and increasing sepsis protocol training has the potential to expand sepsis bundle compliance leading to early sepsis recognition and treatment and improved morbidity and mortality rates.
Recommended Citation
Maykel, Elizabeth Rose, "Improving Early Sepsis Recognition: Resocializing Intensive Care Unit Nurses in a Large Hospital on the Inpatient Sepsis Bundle Checklist" (2023). Master's Projects and Capstones. 1653.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1653
