Nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, practice, and decision-making skills related to sepsis assessment and management

Abstract

<b>Objectives</b>: The present study examines the critical care nurse’s knowledge, attitudes, practice (KAP), and decision-making related to early assessment and management of sepsis.<br /> <b>Methods</b>: This cross-sectional descriptive study utilized a convenience sample of 70 nurses working in a college hospital in the northern region of Jordan. Data were gathered employing a sepsis vignette and valid questionnaires via Google document. The nursing decision-making instrument and the knowledge, attitudes, and practice survey were utilized to assess nurses’ decision-making skills, knowledge, attitudes, and practice, respectively. Nurses’ sociodemographic/professional data, including gender, marital status, experience, education, and work environment, were also measured.<br /> <b>Result</b>: The participating nurses reported poor KAP, and analytical decision-making skills related to sepsis management. Experienced nurses and those with a master’s degree reported significantly better KAP, and intuitive decision-making skills than naïve and those with a bachelor’s degree. Nurses with analytical decision-making modes reported higher levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practice than nurses with intuitive or flexible analytical-intuitive decision-making modes.<br /> <b>Conclusion</b>: Poor decision-making skills, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to sepsis assessment and management, is a substantial problem that demands a productive re-evaluation of the current sepsis management practices. Boosting the knowledge and improving the practices on sepsis assessment and management through comprehensive educational programs and campaigns are necessary to improve nurses’ decision-making skills.