Sepsis Nursing Care Plan
Use this in-depth guide on sepsis management and care plans to deliver unparalleled care for this life-threatening condition.
Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.
What is a Sepsis Nursing Care Plan template?
Sepsis occurs when an infection, typically bacterial, infiltrates the bloodstream, triggering a widespread infection alongside an intense immune reaction. This condition is critical, demanding swift intervention to avert septic shock, which may result in organ dysfunction and mortality. Its onset is often rapid, with a substantial mortality risk if not promptly identified and treated proactively. The most vulnerable groups include infants, individuals aged 65 and older, and those with compromised immune systems or ongoing health issues. Creating a nursing care plan for sepsis is crucial and should be quick to navigate due to the fast-paced onset of the condition.
There is a risk of sepsis progressing into septic shock, a potentially lethal drop in blood pressure causing irreversible damage to the lungs, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Early intervention is paramount to mitigate the risks and increase the chances of survival. Prevention of sepsis is critical, and education about when to seek medical assistance for a suspected infection is vital. Wound care, vaccinations, and good hygiene prevent an infection from turning septic.
The symptoms of sepsis vary from patient to patient and can manifest differently in children than adults. Yet, typical symptoms may include a change in mental status, fast and shallow breathing, sweating with no cause, lightheadedness, and shivering. Any bacterial, viral, or fungal infection can lead to sepsis and can be diagnosed through blood testing, samples from wounds or mucus from the respiratory tract, and imaging tests if needed.
A combination of results from physical exams, lab testing, and imaging are all used to identify the infection, and collating this data is an important aspect of a sepsis nursing care plan. Treatment usually occurs within the intensive care unit setting with the administration of antibiotics, intravenous fluids, vasopressor medications, and potential mechanical ventilation for organ failure.
Sepsis is a serious and life-threatening condition; patients who go without treatment will die, and staggering figures of 30% to 40% of patients who develop septic shock and receive treatment still die.
Printable Sepsis Nursing Care Plan
Download this Sepsis Nursing Care Plan to help patients manage or prevent sepsis.
How does it work?
Step one: Gather your resources
Sepsis nursing care plans are a valuable resource and essential to keep on hand. Make sure that you have a copy of the free printable PDF when the need arises by either clicking the “Download Template” or “Use Template” button or by searching “ sepsis nursing care plan” on Carepatron’s template library’s search bar on the website or app.
Step two: Collate essential information
Quick retrieval of the patient's medical history and any lab results is essential for diagnosis. Once the patient has been diagnosed with sepsis, careful monitoring and intervention are needed to prevent septic shock. This important charting and intervention tool is seamless and easily accessible to relevant parties via Carepatron’s centralized workspace. The patient's information can be collected and stored within the document, and relevant aspects of the care plan can be charted.
The care plan allows for individualized treatment options. It acts as a scaffolding to ensure goals of care are met, and the next steps are recorded for future reference or distribution to other healthcare specialists who are part of the patient's care team.
Step three: Store the chart securely
After reviewing the sepsis nursing care plan and creating a viable and individualized plan for the patient, you need to secure the plan so that access is only granted to relevant parties.
Ensure this through Carepatrons HIPAA-compliant free patient records software. All relevant medical records can be safely stored and collated for ease and security.
Sepsis Nursing Care Plan example (sample)
Want to utilize this essential care planning tool? Acquire a free, downloadable, and printable sepsis nursing care plan template PDF that comes pre-filled with fictional data.
Our crafted sample template is designed to aid you in efficiently utilizing the chart and evaluating the goals of care for patients with sepsis. It includes dedicated sections for clinical notes and outlines the key components of an efficient sepsis nursing care plan.
Secure your copy by previewing the sample below or clicking the "Download Example PDF" button.
Download this Sepsis Nursing Care Plan example:
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When would you use this template?
A sepsis nursing care plan is implemented when a patient is diagnosed with or suspected of having sepsis. This plan is crucial in various healthcare settings, a few of which are outlined below:
Hospital settings
Patients admitted to hospitals with diagnosed or suspected sepsis require immediate and specialized care. The care plan ensures prompt intervention and continuous monitoring to manage the condition effectively.
Emergency departments
Patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of sepsis, such as high fever, altered mental status, rapid heartbeat, and low blood pressure, need rapid assessment and treatment. A sepsis care plan guides emergency healthcare providers in delivering timely care.
Intensive care units (ICUs)
Critically ill patients with severe sepsis or septic shock require intensive monitoring and aggressive interventions. The care plan helps ICU nurses coordinate complex treatments and closely monitor the patient's condition.
Long-term care facilities
Residents in long-term care facilities who develop sepsis require specialized care. Nurses in these settings implement care plans to manage sepsis while considering the unique needs of elderly or chronically ill patients.
Outpatient clinics
Patients who have been diagnosed with sepsis and are receiving outpatient treatment need a care plan that outlines follow-up care, medication management, and monitoring for any signs of recurrence.
The sepsis nursing care plan is vital in providing structured and systematic care to patients with sepsis. It includes interventions for infection control, administering antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, monitoring vital signs and organ function, and providing supportive care. Regular assessments, adjustments to treatment plans, and patient education are also essential components of this care plan.
What do the results mean?
Once a diagnosis has been made for sepsis, a nursing care plan is made to assist in the prioritization of assessments and interventions for both short-term and long-term care. Below are some key nursing care plans related to diagnosis, with relevant interventions.
Decreased cardiac output
If diagnosed with severe sepsis and hypoperfusion, the patient's circulation will be affected. This change can be related to altered hemodynamic parameters, impaired cardiac contractility, and loss of vascular tone. This particular care plan may be evidenced through tachycardia, a central venous pressure < 8 mmHg, a mean arterial pressure <65 mmHg, cyanosis, prolonged capillary refill time, a blood pressure reading <90/60 mmHg, changes in level of consciousness, cold and clammy hands, and the presence of murmurs. To assess, nurses should:
- Assess for signs and symptoms of cardiac and circulatory compromise.
- Monitor hemodynamic parameters such as Central Venous Pressure, Pulmonary Artery Diastolic Pressure, and Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure.
- Monitor laboratory data and look for elevated cardiac markers.
Interventions for decreased cardiac output may include:
- Administering fluid resuscitation and medications as prescribed (antibiotics and vasopressors).
- Anticipate the need for adjunctive therapies as indicated. Mechanical support, such as intra-aortic balloon pumps, is widely used in septic cardiomyopathy.
- Meet oxygen demands.
Hyperthermia
When the body is fighting infection and inflammation, an elevated body temperature is an expected protective response. If this elevation reaches extremes and remains high over a prolonged period of time, serious damage to vital organs can occur and increase the risk of mortality. Hyperthermia may be related to dehydration, an increased metabolic rate, and inflammation. The presence of hyperthermia may be evidenced by a high body temperature, flushed skin, tachypnea, tachycardia, confusion, and seizures. To assess this, a nurse will determine temperature rectally for the most accurate body temperature and evaluate the neurological state of the patient, as uncontrolled hyperthermia can lead to brain damage. Interventions that a nurse may take within a sepsis care plan for hyperthermia may include:
- Providing a cool environment and tepid baths
- Administering antipyretics such as acetaminophen
Ineffective protection
A patient with sepsis may have a decreased ability to fight infectious etiology, meaning there is an increased risk of systemic inflammatory response. This particular care plan would be used in relation to immunosuppression, abnormal blood results, poor nutrition, and for patients over 65. The instigation of this plan may be evidenced through a change in the patient's levels of consciousness, insomnia, and open wounds or pressure ulcers. Assessment involves careful monitoring for signs of progressing sepsis, monitoring leukocytosis, and careful management of risk factors such as patients who suffer from immunosuppression from cancer, HIV, and related treatments, and careful management of patients who are immobile or have open wounds. Interventions include:
- Encouragement of rest
- Avoiding invasive procedures like catheterization, injections, and rectal or vaginal procedures where possible.
- Dietary changes involving high protein, nutrient-dense foods.
- Education for family and patients around infection control and management.
Why use Carepatron as your Sepsis Nursing Care Plan app?
Selecting Carepatron as your preferred application for creating a sepsis nursing care plan offers numerous advantages for healthcare practitioners.
Carepatron provides a centralized workspace, allowing you to manage clinical documents and electronic patient records, set patient appointment reminders, and handle medical billing seamlessly and efficiently within the platform, eliminating the need for additional software downloads. This integrated and comprehensive approach simplifies and streamlines processes and tasks related to sepsis management and care and various other activities, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus most of your time, attention, and effort on patient care.
Carepatron is dedicated to offering a highly efficient and productive platform for thousands of healthcare professionals, allowing you to customize tools and workflows to meet your unique needs. Additionally, it empowers practitioners and patients to manage administrative tasks such as service booking and completing paperwork. The easy sharing of essential documents and data through the app ensures a top-quality customer experience.
We strongly believe in providing radical accessibility, making our app available on any device you have. Our portable medical dictation software simplifies clinical note-making and updates, ensuring an effortless process. With great accessibility comes great responsibility, and we prioritize the security of all notes, clinical records, results, and practitioner data by complying with global security requirements, including HIPAA, GDPR, and HITRUST.
References
Liu, C.-X., Wang, X.-L., Zhang, K., Hao, G.-Z., Han, W.-Y., Tian, Y.-Q., Ge, L., & Shen, L.-M. (2021). Study on clinical nursing pathways to promote the effective implementation of sepsis bundles in septic shock. European Journal of Medical Research, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-021-00540-8
MZ, L. (2010). Basic concept and application of clinical pathways. Chin J Nurs, 45(1), 59–61.
Ramakrishnan, N., Kumar, S., Venkataraman, R., Abraham, B. K., Prakash, B., & Chintamani, A. (2021). Incidence and Impact of Healthcare-associated Infections on Patients Primarily Admitted with Sepsis and Non-sepsis Diagnosis. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, 25(3), 292–295. https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23760
Shankar-Hari, M., Phillips, G. S., Levy, M. L., Seymour, C. W., Liu, V. X., Deutschman, C. S., Angus, D. C., Rubenfeld, G. D., & Singer, M. (2016). Developing a New Definition and Assessing New Clinical Criteria for Septic Shock. JAMA, 315(8), 775. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.0289
Singer, M., Deutschman, C. S., & Seymour, C. W. (2016). The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA, 315(8), 801–810. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.0287
Commonly asked questions
To create a comprehensive nursing care plan for sepsis, simply create a customized plan from the scaffolding provided by Carepatron and cater to the patient's needs through the key aspects of assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and evaluation.
These valuable plan templates can be used at any point of the treatment journey for a patient with sepsis to track, monitor, and plan all interventions by healthcare professionals and the patient themselves.
Sepsis nursing care plan templates are used to plan efficient and confident care delivery. They are designed to be customized to meet the individual patient's needs.
