Reply to this discussion post (site sources if applicable) In nursing, there are certain specialties in which you might see a disease process more than others. Sepsis, however, knows no speciality. It unfortunately can be found in any area of nursing. Recognizing, notifying and implementing quality care to patients with an admitting, new or suspected diagnosis of sepsis is crucial. Time is tissue with septic patients. They have the capability of going south quickly. Working in the ICU, I believe I have had more septic patients than any other admitting diagnosis. They need interventions implemented within an appropriate time frame to prevent poorer outcomes or death. Lack of communication is a reason why some interventions are not completed or are not fully disclosed leaving the receiving nurse confused as to what is still to be done during sepsis protocols. My project was to implemented a sepsis handoff tool that was to be filled out by nurses to keep up to date on vitals, labs, interventions, blood cultures, fluid resuscitation & vasopressor support, antibiotics as well as the three and six hour bundles. A conference I would want to present this information to would be a conference within the Sepsis Alliance Clinical Community (SACC). Each year, SACC holds an annual sepsis conference with national and international speakers. The intention of such conference is to share experiences and evidence on variouds issues related to sepsis. This conference is to improve the awareness and diagnosis of sepsis as well as how to manage it. A journal I would present my topic in would be the “Journal on Quality and Patient Safety” by the Joint Commission. This professional journal focuses on patients safety by implementing quality improvement strategies. It quite often has chapters based off communication, whether using the SBAR technique or handoff tools.

In nursing, the recognition, notification, and implementation of quality care for patients with sepsis is of utmost importance. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can occur in any area of nursing, and early intervention is crucial to prevent poor outcomes or death. Lack of communication is a common barrier to implementing timely interventions, as it can lead to confusion among nurses regarding the necessary steps in sepsis protocols.

To address this issue, a sepsis handoff tool was implemented as part of a project. This tool aims to keep nurses updated on vital signs, laboratory results, interventions, blood cultures, fluid resuscitation, vasopressor support, antibiotic administration, and the three- and six-hour bundles. By providing a standardized tool for handoff communication, the risk of incomplete or undisclosed interventions can be minimized.

One potential conference where this project could be presented is the Sepsis Alliance Clinical Community (SACC) annual sepsis conference. SACC hosts an annual conference that brings together national and international speakers to share experiences and evidence on various sepsis-related issues. The primary objective of this conference is to improve awareness, diagnosis, and management of sepsis. Presenting the sepsis handoff tool at this conference would allow for dissemination of the project’s findings and potentially lead to its adoption in other healthcare settings.

Another suitable platform to present this project is the “Journal on Quality and Patient Safety” by the Joint Commission. This professional journal focuses on patient safety and the implementation of quality improvement strategies. Communication-related topics, such as the use of the SBAR technique or handoff tools, are frequently covered in this journal. Presenting the sepsis handoff tool in this journal would allow for a broader audience of healthcare professionals to learn about the project and potentially adopt it in their practice.

In conclusion, sepsis is a condition that can occur in any area of nursing, and early recognition and intervention are critical for positive patient outcomes. Lack of communication is a barrier to implementing timely interventions for septic patients. The implementation of a sepsis handoff tool can help address this issue by providing a standardized method of communication during handoff between nurses. Presenting this project at the SACC annual sepsis conference and in the “Journal on Quality and Patient Safety” would allow for the dissemination of findings and potentially lead to widespread adoption of the sepsis handoff tool in healthcare settings.