Nursing Care Plan for Sepsis
Also searched as: septicemia, blood infection
🎓 Educational example. Adapt to your patient and have your instructor review it. Not medical advice.
A life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response to infection. Nursing care is time-critical: recognize early, support perfusion, and treat the source.
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Assessment
- Subjective: malaise, confusion, chills
- Objective: fever or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension, elevated lactate/WBC, low urine output
Nursing diagnoses
As evidenced by: hypotension, elevated lactate, altered mentation
Goals / expected outcomes
- The patient will maintain adequate perfusion (MAP ≥65, improving lactate, urine ≥0.5 mL/kg/hr) within the resuscitation period.
Nursing interventions & rationale
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Recognize sepsis early and initiate the sepsis bundle: cultures, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and fluids per protocol. | Every hour of delayed antibiotics increases mortality. |
| Give IV fluids and monitor MAP, lactate, and urine output. | Restores perfusion and guides resuscitation. |
| Monitor vitals, mentation, and organ function closely. | Detects deterioration toward septic shock. |
| Identify and control the infection source. | Source control is essential to resolve sepsis. |
Evaluation
- MAP and perfusion improve
- Lactate trends down
- Infection source controlled
Stop rewriting care plans by hand
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Build a care plan free See Student plan — $6.99/monthSepsis care plan: FAQ
What is the nursing diagnosis for Sepsis?
Common nursing diagnoses include: Risk for ineffective tissue perfusion related to systemic infection and hypotension. Choose the one your patient's assessment data supports.
What are nursing interventions for Sepsis?
Key interventions: Recognize sepsis early and initiate the sepsis bundle: cultures, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and fluids per protocol.; Give IV fluids and monitor MAP, lactate, and urine output.; Monitor vitals, mentation, and organ function closely. — each paired with a rationale.
Can I use this care plan for my assignment?
Use it as a study example and starting draft. Always adapt it to your specific patient and have it reviewed by your instructor. This is an educational tool, not medical advice.
Last reviewed 2026-07. Educational content based on standard nursing practice; not medical advice and not affiliated with NANDA-I/NIC/NOC. Always follow your institution's protocols and your instructor's guidance.