Are nurses updated on the proper management of patients with sepsis?

Abstract Objective: To evaluate nurses' knowledge about the definitions of Sepsis-3 and updates to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out from July to August 2018, with 30 nurses from four wards of a large university hospital. For data collection, we created, structured, and validated a questionnaire composed of socio-demographic/occupational data and knowledge test. Results: Only 16.6% of the professionals received in-service training on the subject. There was no implementation of sepsis protocols in the institution, although 96.6% of the participants considered their implementation necessary. Professionals aged ≥35 years old had a higher level of knowledge about the new definition of sepsis (p=0.042). The knowledge about volume resuscitation (p=0.001) and use of vasopressors (p=0.025) was greater in those with ≥10.5 years of experience in the profession. Nurses from the clinical units presented a higher level of knowledge about the organic dysfunctions caused by sepsis (p=0.025). Conclusion and implications for the practice: Nurses do not have satisfactory knowledge for the proper identification, treatment, and clinical management of sepsis. There is a need for greater professional, institutional, and political incentives to implement a permanent education and the sepsis protocol.