Date of Conferral
2018
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Cheryl W. McGinnis
Abstract
Sepsis causes major health care problems in the United States, resulting in long hospitalizations, complications, and even patient death. Lack of nursing knowledge regarding sepsis signs and symptoms is a significant problem at a hospital in the northeast. Local hospital data showed a high patient mortality rate for patients diagnosed with sepsis. The purpose of this project was to develop an educational module on sepsis for intensive care nurses. The educational module was developed using current sepsis evidence-based guidelines. The practice-focused question for the project asked whether an educational module on sepsis would increase the intensive care nurse's knowledge on sepsis recognition and treatment guidelines. The adult learning theory was used as a conceptual model to guide project development. After development, the educational module was evaluated by a panel of 8 experts, including a nurse educator, infection control nurse, a charge nurse, a staff nurse, and an infectious disease physician. Program content evaluations included a 10-question pretest/posttest questionnaire completed by each panel member. Program content was modified based on pretest/posttest results. Results of the panel evaluation indicated agreement that the sepsis module content would benefit nurses on sepsis recognition and management for patients. Improving nursing knowledge on sepsis can provide a positive social change to improve patient outcomes, including mortality rates and complications from sepsis.
Recommended Citation
Meade, Corina, "Intensive Care Unit Nurse Education to Reduce Sepsis Mortality Rates" (2018). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 5024.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5024
