Significance of Nurses' Role in the Early Recognition and Management of Sepsis: A Systematic Review of Existing Reviews

Abstract

Despite notable improvements in the understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis, innovations in hemodynamic monitoring and methods of resuscitation, the cases of sepsis and septic shock still has a higher healthcare and economic burden and mortality. Yet, the significance of the nurses’ role is not explored and utilized enough in the fight against sepsis and septic shock. To give emphasis to the nurses’ role, this paper is a systematic review of existing reviews on sepsis following a research question: In patients with a suspected or confirmed sepsis, does specialized sepsis nursing assessment and intervention tool to standard nursing assessment tool improves management, outcome, and length of stay starting from the time of admission? This research question was formulated using the participant, intervention, (comparison), outcomes, and time frame (PICOT) formula. That is: (P) In patient with existing or confirmed sepsis, (I) does specialized nursing assessment and intervention tool (C) to standard nursing assessment tool only (O) improves management, outcome, and length of stay (T) starting from time of admission? Literature reviews and studies cited in this paper that explored sepsis recognizing the significance of the nurses’ role were published in either international or national journals and online databases including CINAHL Cochrane, Proquest, Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholars. The archives were searched using the following eligibility criteria: Nurses and Sepsis/Septic shock; Nurse Led Pathways and Sepsis/Septic Shock. Eligibility criteria of participants included suspected or confirmed blood infection. Out of 30 articles found, only 6 were included in the review based on the eligibility criteria set out. This paper found that nurse- led sepsis pathways played an important role in improving the management and outcome of sepsis. It also found a significant reduction of length of stay starting from the time of admission for those who are suspected or confirmed presence of blood infection. In its recommendation, the paper suggested the creation and implementation of a nurse-led pathway for use within the hospital initially and then throughout the catchment areas eventually.