Recognizing sepsis in the adult patient.

Patients in every health care setting are at risk for systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, severe sepsis, and even septic shock. The increasing incidence of sepsis, especially among older adults, its high mortality rate, and its subtle and rapid progression make prompt recognition and treatment imperative. Even though severe sepsis requires treatment in the ICU, the assessment of sepsis isn't solely the domain of the physician, critical care nurse, or ED nurse.

Empowering critical care nurses to improve compliance with protocols in the intensive care unit.

Background: Practitioners often do not comply with evidence-based protocols.

Objective: To improve compliance with evidence-based protocols in an intensive care unit.

Methods: A baseline compliance range was obtained by using a sampling of 9 protocols for a 100% audit of 35 beds in an adult intensive care unit.