Date Available

12-11-2015

Year of Publication

2015

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Committee Chair

Dr. Melanie Hardin-Pierce

Clinical Mentor

Dr. Kevin Williams

Committee Member

Dr. Karen Butler

Abstract

Sepsis is manifested by a spectrum of clinical signs and symptoms that are produced by an immune response to an infection. The continuum of sepsis ranges from simple sepsis to septic shock and without timely and appropriate intervention leads to death. The purpose of this practice inquiry project is to implement a dual component educational program at Baptist Health Madisonville, a hospital part of the Baptist Healthcare System in Madisonville, Kentucky, and evaluate the changes in nurse knowledge and self-efficacy levels after they receive didactic and interactive education. The first manuscript is an integrative literature review of studies published between 2005 and 2014 that have implemented educational interventions utilizing simulation in the acute care setting specifically on medical-surgical units. The findings from this review revealed a surprising knowledge gap in the use of high fidelity simulation outside the academic setting and whether this level of fidelity is cost effective or superior to lower levels of fidelity. The study recommends healthcare organizations utilize low to medium fidelity simulation in an effort to increase the engaging experiences of staff nurses. The second manuscript serves to analyze the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) Guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II Instrument. Using the Agree II Instrument facilitates a quality guideline assessment in terms of scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity of presentation, applicability, and editorial independence. The final manuscript is a write up of the results of implementing a pilot educational program that includes both didactic and simulation experiences in an attempt to improve the knowledge and self-efficacy levels of medical-surgical registered nurses so that they may better recognize patient deterioration, specifically from sepsis, and respond appropriately and expediently.

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