6 Sepsis Nursing Care Plans

Updated on April 12, 2019

Sepsis is a systemic response to infection; it may occur after a burn, surgery, or a serious illness and is manifested by two or more clinical symptoms: temperature of more than 38°C or less than 36°C, heart rate of more than 90 beats per minute, respiratory rate of more than 20 breaths per minute, PaCO₂of below 32 mmHg, white blood cell count of more than 12,000 cells/mm³, less than 4,000 cells/mm³ or greater than 10% of bands or immature cells, hyperglycemia, bleeding, and abnormal clotting.

Nursing Care Plans

The nursing care plan for clients with sepsis involves eliminating infection, maintaining adequate tissue perfusion or circulatory volume, preventing complications, and providing information about disease process, prognosis, and treatment needs.

Here are six (6) nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis for patients with sepsis and septicemia:

Deficient Knowledge

Deficient Knowledge: Absence or deficiency of cognitive information related to a specific topic.

May be related to

Cognitive limitation.
Lack of exposure or recall information misinterpretation.

Possibly evidenced by

Inaccurate follow-through of instructions, development of preventable complications.
Questions, request for information, statement of misconception.

Desired Outcomes

Client will verbalize understanding of disease process, prognosis, and potential complications.
Client will verbalize understanding of therapeutic needs.
Client will participate in the treatment regimen.
Client will initiate necessary lifestyle changes.
Client will correctly perform necessary procedures and explain the rationale for the actions.

Nursing Interventions	Rationale
Review disease process and future expectations.	Discussing the disease and clinical expectations provides a knowledge base from which client can make informed choices.
Review individual risk factors, mode of transmission, and portal of entry of infections.	Awareness of means of infection transmission provides an opportunity to plan for and institute preventive measures.
Review necessity of personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness, proper cooking techniques, and food storage.	Personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness lessen the exposure to pathogens.
Discuss need for a good nutritional intake or balanced diet.	Good nutrition is necessary for optimal healing, immune system enhancement, and general well-being.
Discuss proper use of avoidance of tampons with menstruating women, as indicated.	Superabsorbent tampons or infrequent tampon changing increases the risk of Staphylococcus aureus infection.
Provide information about drug therapy, interactions, side effects, and the importance of compliance with the treatment regimen.	Sufficient and appropriate information promotes understanding and enhances compliance with treatment or prophylaxis, and reduces the risk of recurrence and complications.
Identify signs and symptoms requiring medical evaluation: persistent high fever, increased heart rate, syncope, rashes of unknown origin, unexplained fatigue, anorexia, increased thirst, and changes in bladder function.	Early recognition of developing infection will allow a timely intervention and reduces the risk of life-threatening complications.
Stress the importance of prophylactic immunizations and antibiotic therapy, as needed.	Prophylactic vaccines and antibiotics prevent the occurrence of infection, especially in high-risk groups such as those of extreme ages or with chronic illness and a history of infective heart disease and immunosuppression.