När sepsis gömmer sig på akutrum 3

: En litteraturstudie

Abstract

Background: Sepsis is a common but life-threatening condition which can lead to severe complications if not discovered and treated in time. Early identification, treatment and care is critical for surviving sepsis. Nurses’ role in identifying sepsis in the emergency department is challenging and complex due to the various signs and symptoms as well as an unpredictable course of sepsis. Aim: describe nurses’ prerequisites for identifying sepsis in patients in the emergency department. Method: A literature review based on three qualitative studies and nine quantitative studies. Data from two different databases were reviewed and analyzed by the authors. Result: two main categories emerged containing three subcategories each. The first main category is named: identifying sepsis and subcategories are knowledge of sepsis, nurses’ work experience and using assessment tools and protocol. The second main category is named: organizational factors and includes the following subcategories: teamwork, the importance of a work environment. Discussion: the method was discussed using Shenton’s notion of credibility. Based on the McCormack and McCances person-centered nursing theory, the patient-safety act, sustainability in healthcare and societal perspectives, the following findings where discussed: education provides knowledge, the emergency department as a work environment and communication and collaboration. The prerequisites nurses’ need to identify sepsis in adults turn out to be knowledge and teamwork in a healthy work environment.

Date of Award	2024-Jan
Original language	Swedish
Supervisor	Lena Bjerström (Supervisor) & Janet Mattsson (Examiner)