Nurses' experience of prehospital sepsis assessment: a qualitative study.

Reeves, Lara; Rubenson-Wahlin, Rebecka; Andersson, Emma Hei Rim; Bjerkander, Matteus; Djärv, Therese; Bohm, Katarina; Vicente, Veronica

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.

SWEDEN; WORK; MEDICAL protocols; QUALITATIVE research; MEDICAL quality control; HOSPITAL nursing staff; INTERVIEWING; CONTENT analysis; WORK environment; EMERGENCY medicine; WORK experience (Employment); NURSING; EMERGENCY medical services; PATIENT care; NURSES' attitudes; EMERGENCY nursing; SEPSIS; RESEARCH methodology; GERIATRIC assessment; MEDICAL needs assessment; EARLY diagnosis; CONTINUING education; QUALITY assurance; EXPERIENTIAL learning; COMORBIDITY; PSYCHOSOCIAL factors; SYMPTOMS

Contemporary Nurse: A Journal for the Australian Nursing Profession, 2024, Vol 60, Issue 6, p673

1037-6178

Academic Journal

10.1080/10376178.2024.2370930