Welcome back to my series addressing sepsis and why it is important to your cases. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have regarding the information I have provided so far or if you have questions regarding a case you are reviewing with one of these issues.

Today we are reviewing:

• When should nursing assess a resident/patient for infection?

You may recall from my last email that sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to infection causes organ injury. Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) is not a specific disease but rather a collection of symptoms which only becomes sepsis when an infection is present.   If sepsis remains untreated it can evolve to septic shock.

Because there are no specific tests to diagnose sepsis, it is imperative  that nurses use critical thinking skills and know SIRS and when to alert the chain of command or medical team to possible sepsis development. Paige Legal Consulting nurses know what symptoms to look for in developing symptoms of infection, which then is used to assess if standards were met in care.

How does a nurse know when to screen a resident/patient for sepsis?

1. Every new admission should be screened for sepsis and infection.
2. Every transfer from another floor or facility and onto your assignment should be screened.
3. Every day, every shift, nursing should screen every resident/patient on their assignment.

This may sound overwhelming or daunting, but these assessments are quick and use elements of assessment that nursing should already be utilizing in their daily care of residents/patients..

These three key indicators pertain to all nurses – whether they work in a hospital, a nursing home, an LTACH, or rehabilitation facility.

What are the stages and signs of SIRS and sepsis?  We will be reviewing these areas more in depth in the upcoming emails. Watch your inbox over the next few weeks for information coming.

Paige Legal Nurse Consulting is a certified Legal Nurse Consulting firm with experienced acute care and nursing home nurses that are qualified to review cases involving infection and sepsis. Call 508-292-2372 or schedule your case development review online with us today!