Mandy Stewart

Healthcare Provider: Newly Graduated Nurse

During my nurse training, I have travelled an amazing journey. I have been privileged to care for people during their most vulnerable time. I have learnt many new skills, and been taught valuable lessons. Inevitably I have encountered many illnesses and diseases; from cancer, dementia and heart disease to diabetes, epilepsy and infections. All of these are diseases and conditions that most of us may be aware of.

I have nursed many patients, young and old, who have been diagnosed with infection. Urine infections, chest infections, skin infections to name a few. Under supervision I have given these patients countless antibiotics, to obliterate the cause of their specific infections.

It never really occurred to me, what if the “magic bullets” didn’t work? What else could be done? What would happen to these fragile bodies, ravished by infection?

Although I had heard of blood poisoning I never had a true understanding of sepsis, and of the consequences in terms of resulting septic shock. Even then, I assumed, like most people, that the multitude of antibiotics available would eradicate the invading infection, and the patient would be returned back to their old self.

However events took a drastic turn, and I was thrust into the nightmare of sepsis as my own father was diagnosed with septic shock, resulting from an infected prosthetic hip. He had surgery and copious amounts of antibiotics to clear the infection. After a while he seemed to be improving and the antibiotics were discontinued. Days later he deteriorated, rapidly. His body was pumped with various antibiotics, but to no avail, it was too late.

Ironically, at university we began the Acute Illness Management (AIM) course, which included sepsis. From this I was able to understand in greater depth what had happened in my father’s case, and appreciate that early recognition of sepsis is vital, and time really is of the essence. We learnt about the Sepsis Six, a recommended tool to aid in rapid identification of sepsis, treatment and increase chance of survival. We had practical assessments, complete with dummy patients, to test our skills of recognition and application of theory to practice. Failure was not an option.

While it is significant that I undertook the AIM course during my training, it is usually undertaken once qualified. This may in part explain why some nurses seem to lack awareness of sepsis. I discovered I was not alone in my lack of knowledge in sepsis and its deadly course. After my father’s death, I began to question colleagues, and was shocked by the majority of responses. Many nurses had never heard of the Sepsis Six.

Of course I witnessed events where patients became acutely unwell. I was involved in the assessment and care of these patients. I saw examples of excellent teamwork, and doctors ordering blood tests, investigations and antibiotics. But most alarmingly, I have found that sometimes symptoms and signs of sepsis can be missed, and treatment delayed, leading to poor prognosis. Now I am a qualified nurse, due to begin my first staff nurse post on a busy ward. I aim to fulfil my professional responsibility to raise awareness of sepsis, by sharing knowledge, educating others and instigating change in practice in regards to sepsis. Through knowledge gained in training, from research and from my own personal experience of sepsis, I know that sepsis is a medical emergency.

My experiences have encouraged me to think deeper about my patient, and to consider all possible risks, scenarios and outcomes. Sepsis is indiscriminate, it can creep up, it can mask itself. With this in mind I am confident in my ability to recognise symptoms and signs of sepsis, to express my concerns and to take appropriate action.

If my efforts serve to raise more awareness of sepsis, I will have achieved something. If I can help to save a life, now, that is something!