Sepsis for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Master
To Master a topic you must score > 80% on the lesson quiz.
Take Quiz
Included In This Lesson
NURSING.com students have a 99.25% NCLEX pass rate.
Outline
Sepsis
Definition/Etiology:
- Sepsis- abnormal inflammatory response resulting from an infection
Pathophysiology:
- Abnormal inflammatory response
- Changes to the vasculature
- SIRS criteria
Noticing: Assessment & Recognizing Cues:
- Prevention
- Treat infections early
- Recognize early decline
- Assessment
- AMS
- SIRS criteria
- HR up (or down)
- BP down
- RR up (or down)
- Temp up (or down)
- SpO2 down
Interpreting: Analyzing & Planning:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Basic/Complete Metabolic Panel (BMP/CMP)
- Renal
- Hepatic
- Lactate level (>2 or >4)
- Organ dysfunction
- Find/confirm the source of infection
- Chest x-ray/sputum culture (PNA)
- Urinalysis/culture (UTI)
- Blood cultures (Septicemia)
Responding: Patient Interventions & Taking Action:
- Antibiotics (maybe 2 or 3) QUICKLY!
- IV fluids A LOT!
- Decline further
Reflecting: Evaluating Patient Outcomes:
- High mortality and morbidity
- Early recognition is KEY!
Patient improvement:
- Vital signs stabilized
- Restored perfusion to organs (labs)
Continued treatment:
- Abx
Linchpins (Key Points):
- Sepsis ≠ septicemia
- Sepsis is an abnormal inflammatory response.
- Septicemia is an infection in the blood.
Unlock the Complete Study System
Used by 300,000+ nursing students. 99.25% NCLEX pass rate.
- ✓Full lesson outlines
- ✓NCLEX simulator (SIMCLEX)
- ✓6,500+ practice questions
- ✓2,000+ lesson videos
- ✓300+ cheatsheets
200% NCLEX Pass Guarantee.
No Contract. Cancel Anytime.
Transcript
References
- Mayo Clinic. (2022a). Diagnosis & treatment. Sepsis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sepsis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351219.
- Mayo Clinic. (2022b). Symptoms & causes. Sepsis. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sepsis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351214
Study Faster with Full Video Transcripts
99.25% NCLEX Pass Rate vs 88.8% National Average
- ✓Full lesson outlines
- ✓NCLEX simulator (SIMCLEX)
- ✓6,500+ practice questions
- ✓2,000+ lesson videos
- ✓300+ cheatsheets
200% NCLEX Pass Guarantee.
No Contract. Cancel Anytime.
Adaptive Brain SIMCLEX Study Plan – 11 Aug 2026
Concepts Covered:
- Documentation and Communication
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Preoperative Nursing
- Communication
- Urinary System
- Urinary Disorders
- Shock
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Neurological Emergencies
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
Study Plan Lessons
The Top 5 Things You Need To Know About Documentation 2 – Live Tutoring Archive
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Meniere’s Disease
Ethical and Professional Standards for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Function Within Scope of Practice for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Patient Confidentiality for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Patient Rights Advocacy for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Advanced Directive and DNR Status Confirmation for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Patient Privacy and Dignity Maintenance for Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
Advocacy & Moral Judgement for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Electrolyte Imbalances for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Healthcare-Acquired Infections: Catheter-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CAUTI) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Sepsis for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Seizure Disorder for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)
Respiratory Infections (Pneumonia) for Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN)