Nurses’ experience of prehospital sepsis assessment: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Sepsis is a frequent cause of global deaths with time critical diagnosis and treatment impacting outcomes. Prehospital emergency nurses are pivotal in assessment that influences timely diagnosis. Aim To gain a deep understanding of nurse’s experiences when caring for those with suspected sepsis. Design and Methods A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and inductive content analysis according to the Elo Kyngäs method. Findings Early identification of sepsis by prehospital emergency nurses (n = 13) was augmented through a combination of clinical experience and the implementation of practice guidelines. There were three key components to practice improvement a) clinical experience, b) continuous education and c) explicit guidelines. Conclusions Identification of sepsis in the prehospital environment can shorten the time to treatment for patients with sepsis. Early identification can be achieved by continuous education in the Emergency Medical Service (EMS), ensuring experienced personnel and including the EMS in medical guidelines.