title: Targeting sepsis as a performance improvement metric: role of the nurse.
abstract: Sepsis is the body's systemic response to infection that can be complicated by acute organ dysfunction and is associated with high mortality rates and adverse outcomes for acute and critically ill patients. The 2012 Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines advocated for implementation of evidence-based practice care for sepsis, with a focus on quality improvement. Nurses are directly involved in identification and management of sepsis. Implementing performance improvement strategies aimed at early recognition and targeted treatment can further improve sepsis care and patient outcomes. This article presents an overview of the process of implementing performance improvement initiatives for sepsis care, highlighting the significant contribution of nursing care.
authors.affiliation: Ruth Kleinpell is Professor, Rush University College of Nursing, and Director of the Center for Clinical Research & Scholarship, Rush University Medical Center, 600 South Paulina Ave, 1062B AAC, Chicago, IL 60612 (ruth_m_kleinpell@rush.edu). Christa A. Schorr is Program Director of Critical Care Clinical Trials at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, and is Nurse Leader for the design and implementation for the Surviving Sepsis Campaign database.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kleinpell
authors.forename: Christa A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schorr
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010348:Patient Care Team; D058996:Quality Improvement; D018805:Sepsis / Q000451:nursing*