Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/679218
51 ASC Quality & Infection Control 51 Sepsis Enters Spotlight With Patty Duke's Death: 6 Things to Know By Megan Wood A ctress Patty Duke died of sepsis from a ruptured intestine, bringing the condition to center stage, according to Huffington Post. Here are six things to know: 1. Sepsis Alliance Executive Director Thomas Heymann urged more people to become aware of the condition so people understand sepsis' seriousness. 2. Of 2,000 Americans the alliance surveyed, 47 percent knew the definition of sepsis. 3. More than 258,000 Americans die from sepsis annually, according to the CDC. 4. Physicians struggle with sepsis diagnoses because the symptoms are very similar to regular infections. 5. Since sepsis is categorized as a hospital-acquired infec- tion, the condition is often overlooked in patients who were not in the hospital. However, more than two-thirds of sepsis cases are first seen in the emergency department. 6. Experts encourage physicians to check organ dysfunc- tion if patients show signs of infections. n thing that you can talk about one time at orientation and expect the lesson to stick for a 20-year career." Ms. Dempsey suggests talking about empathy and compassion on an annual basis and training to make sure it's second nature for the nurses. Formal ongoing education around the patient experience is crucial; this is different from patient satisfaction because the patient experience encompasses clinical, operational, cultural and behavioral aspects. e work environment is also important for a successful organization. e nurse culture begins with leadership and can drive forward with the right attitude from the top down. Nurse leaders can practice "modeling behavior" to encourage others and drive up the standard of care. "We talk about purposeful rounding in our organization and we want nurses to go in to the patient rooms every hour and have a purposeful connection with their patients," Ms. Dempsey says. "If nurse leaders want nurses to sit down and make a connection with patients, you have to do that too." One of the best ways to connect with patients is discovering something about them outside of their reason for being in the hospital. e best nurse leaders apply the same principle to their nursing staff. "If you're a leader, it's important to know something about the staff that isn't work-related," says Ms. Dempsey. "I think it goes back to the theme of compassionate, connected caregivers. Nurse leaders acknowledge the work is difficult and foster team work to earn their employees' trust." Finally, active communication is a key component of leadership. But the type of communication is rapidly evolving as millennials enter the workspace and leadership roles. Millennials may have different values than older generations; work-life balance is very important and effective leaders understand how to pull excellence out of their team. "ere has to be the recognition that this job is hard and the nurses want a work-life balance," says Ms. Dempsey. "When we think about staffing and scheduling, we have to take that into account." Millennials also prefer leaders not "manage" them. Instead, mentors can frame their role as helping younger nurses grow and prepare for the next stage in their careers. Developing expectations for empathy and teaching appropriate communication is necessary, especially when young nurses are treating patients in older generations. "is is a very tech-savvy generation, but, we must teach them how to connect with other people," says Ms. Dempsey. "irty years ago when I went to nursing school, we practiced IVs on each other and did bath rubs on each other. We learned what was too rough, what worked and what didn't. Nurses today are taught on simulators and simulators don't usually talk, get angry or cry." Young nurses need strong leaders who will work with them beyond just the preceptor orientation; they need mentors who will help make sure these new leaders understand their not only their job but also what ef- fective nurse leadership looks like. "Front line managers can make or break the experience of their staff and patients," says Ms. Dempsey. "We have to make sure they are well prepared to mentor and coach the people at the bedside." n