Sepsis Care

Healthcare practitioners have to base their information on evidence-based practice to have accurate information for healthcare practitioners to deliver quality care. The evidence-based practise provides healthcare practitioners with valid information concerning their patient, therefore, act as a guide when making healthcare decisions. Superlative evidence comprises empirical evidence gathered from controlled clinical trials, those acquired from a scientific method, for instance, descriptive and quality studies, and expert analysis or outlook. Evidence-based practice is guided by the need for practical evidence in such clinical trials related to patient value. Sepsis is one of the potentially life-threatening conditions resulting from the body’s response to an infection that damages its tissue. Therefore, this condition needs to be treated as it exposes the vulnerable population such as the young, aged, and pregnant at significant risk. Early and accurate detection of sepsis is vital since it helps limit the extent of damages exposed to tissue and organ dysfunction.

Evidence-based practices refer to collecting data, analyzing, and using the finding to improve clinical practices, settings, and health outcomes. Some of the importance of evidence-based practices include providing the nurses with scientific research, enabling them to make well-founded information (Lehane et al., 2018). This is because the nurses are well updated about the new medical protocol needed to provide quality patient care. Besides, the nurses can be able to acquire and search for documented information that aligns with their patient profiles, thus increasing the chances of patient recovery (EIUO, 2018). In addition, using evidence-based practices, the nurse can evaluate research, giving them insight into the risk or effectiveness of a specific diagnostic test and treatment. As a result, the patients can play a proactive role in improving their health practices by expressing their concerns, values, and preferences, thus imputing how they want the procedure to be carried on (Lehane et al., 2018). Finally, the application of evidence-based practices reduces healthcare organization expenses, leading to a decrease in the demand for healthcare resources (EIUO, 2018). Therefore, evidence-based practices are very significant tools in health care organizations.

Sepsis Recognition policy is one of the standardized procedures set aside for managing patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention as it causes devastating consequences, including high mobility and mortality (Evans, 2018). It is not easily detected as its manifestation overlaps with the sign and symptoms of other diseases, therefore, making it difficult to ascertain at early stages (Evans, 2018). The Sepsis Recognition policy aims to provide multidisciplinary, evidence-based guidelines to enable early detection and rapid treatment for the septic patient, especially patients with an end-organ sign and symptom exemplifications (NHS, 2021). The Rapid Response Nurse usually does this procedure with expertise in sepsis and other RNs accredited due to their competence and performance when carrying out the sepsis procedure.  The primary responsibility for this guideline is for the nurses to compliance with the policy and its operations.

The sepsis guideline includes the clinical toolkits to be used by the UK Sepsis Trust (NHS, 2021). The basic procedure of the infection has been incorporated in SCVMC nursing services to identify sepsis; this includes “screening and early recognition of patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock” (Sweet et al., 2021, par.6). This SCVMC does this by evaluating first the required patient condition. The second is identifying and controlling the source of sepsis. They determine whether sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock following severe sepsis protocol (ES, 2021). This is done in the assessment phase by the SCVMC nursing service.

Once the infection is identified, then appropriate attention and focus are administered to remove the least percutaneously placed drain. The third is fluid resuscitation to optimize the patient hemodynamic status. This is also done SCVMC in the access and fluid phase. The fourth is the guidelines for treatment that include early delivery of antibiotics (ES, 2021). This is also carried out in SCVMC in the antibiotic phase in which a patient diagnosed to have severe sepsis, or septic shock is administered antibiotics. The exclusive criteria and reportable condition phase. Fifth is suitable training and resources, and equipment from the healthcare providers. This includes the laboratory, RN requirements, and development and approval of standard procedure (ES, 2021). The last one is documentation, in which the nurse is obliged to document the sepsis screening tool and give the answer to infection, acknowledgment of and providing notification and response. Therefore, SCVMC services follow the sepsis policies and protocols while handling sepsis cases.

Sepsis recognition policy falls less of Evidence-based practices. Evidence-based practices involve accurate assessing and integration of weight carried on various available evidence. This evidence originates from randomized controlled trials, case series, case study and experts’ points of view (Harley et al., 2021). However, managing sepsis patients, especially severe sepsis, makes it difficult to apply evidence-based practices. This is because of its heterogeneous nature requiring intensive care units, impacting the acute intervention on long-term outcomes, besides the treatment strategies used to aim at saving the life (Harley et al., 2021). This includes blood transfusion, administration of vasopressor or mechanical ventilation, among others. Therefore, despite uncertainty, it is strenuous to develop a guideline for managing a patient with sepsis (Harley et al., 2021). Although in recent years, the application of knowledge translation (KT) methodology allows reviewing, refining, and improving implementation of clinical guidelines, therefore, enhancing incorporation of evidence-based practices.  For the knowledge translation (KT) to be considered adequate, it will include an evaluation that includes assessment and exploration of the underpinning factors to guideline specifications (Harley et al., 2021). Therefore, there will be the utilization of evidence-based practices interventions that will positively impact the increase in KT, thus improving sepsis patient outcomes.

I chose to tackle the Sepsis recognition policy because of various reasons. The sepsis infection has a high mortality rate, and therefore it caught my attention to evaluate the protocol used when handling the cases. First, I wanted to assess the program by studying it in-depth, familiarizing myself with the practices used and the intervention applied to understand how well the policy contributes to accomplishing its objectives. Besides this, evaluating the sepsis recognition policy has helped me determine what works well and needs improvement in the program. In addition, I wanted to keep updated with the Sepsis recognition policy regulations, technology, and best practices. To understand how the protocolized treatment provided to the patient with severe or shock sepsis is admitted to the ICU to reduce the occurrence of multi-organ dysfunction. The other reason is to evaluate the significance of the protocol in the hospital sector to reduce the mortality rate. Finally, to confirm if the healthcare service providers are following the Sepsis recognition policy and procedure. Therefore, by comparison, the empirical observation from (Sepsis recognition policy) and control group from (Evidence-Based practices), I have been able to come up with counterfactual scenarios.

As a nurse, my main aim is to apply critical thinking, which forms the basis of evidence-based practices. This thinking skill consists of evaluating arguments presented to develop self-regulatory judgment (Melnyk, 2021). Critical thinking will enable me to interpret, analyze evidence and methodology when seeking an appropriate decision concerning the well-being of my patients. Through critical thinking, I will be consistent in evaluating the evidence and gauging how much finding I am supposed to trust and rely on in a given research study.  To accomplish this, I must play a set of roles; this includes formulating a straightforward clinical question from the patient problems, searching the literature relevant to clinical articles, evaluate the evidence to capture its validity and usefulness (Melnyk, 2021). Finally, I will implement valuable findings in clinical practise to achieve better patient outcomes. By doing so, I would have fulfilled my goals, which include delivering quality care for my patient, contributing to the science of nursing, keeping up with the current and relevant practices in the healthcare center, and finally increasing my confidence in the decision-making process.

In conclusion, evidence-based practice refers to the collection of data, analysis, and use of the finding to improve clinical practices, setting, and health outcomes. It provides healthcare practitioners with valid information concerning their patient, therefore, act as a guide when making healthcare decisions. Evidence-based practice has several advantages, including providing the nurses with scientific research, enabling them to make well-founded information, thus improving patient outcomes. Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention as it causes devastating consequences, including high mobility and mortality . It is not easily detected as its manifestation overlaps with the sign and symptoms of other diseases, therefore, making it difficult to ascertain at early stages. Sepsis Recognition policy is one of the standardized procedures set aside for managing patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. This policy aims to provide multidisciplinary, evidence-based guidelines to enable early detection and rapid treatment for the septic patient, especially patients with end-organ signs and symptom exemplifications. Management of a patient with sepsis, especially severe sepsis, makes it challenging to apply evidence-based practices. Although in recent years’ application of knowledge translation (KT) methodology allows reviewing, refining, and improving implementation of clinical guidelines, therefore, enhancing incorporation of evidence-based practices