Speakers - 2025

Biography

Debra Hawkins, BSN, RN, CCRN, is an advanced practice nurse leader and Clinical Nurse Specialist doctoral candidate at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. With over 12 years of diverse experience in emergency, critical care, and rural healthcare, she specializes in improving clinical outcomes through education, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice. In addition, Debra is a decorated Girl Scout leader and a past recipient of the Girl Scout Leader of the Year award for Western Oklahoma, demonstrating her commitment to mentorship and community engagement.

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition requiring early recognition and timely intervention to improve patient outcomes. Despite advances in sepsis protocols, rural hospitals continue to face significant barriers in sepsis management due to resource limitations, workforce shortages, and inconsistencies in protocol adherence. Studies indicate that rural healthcare settings often struggle with delayed identification of sepsis, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Addressing these challenges through structured education and quality improvement initiatives is essential to enhancing compliance with evidence-based sepsis protocols.
This quality improvement project aimed to assess the impact of a structured sepsis education program combined with compliance audits on nursing documentation accuracy and adherence to sepsis screening guidelines in two rural critical access hospitals. The project followed a three-phase approach: a pre-intervention audit, a targeted educational intervention, and a post-intervention audit. In the pre-education phase, a three-month retrospective chart review evaluated baseline adherence to sepsis documentation and protocol compliance among nursing staff. Results revealed low baseline accuracy rates, averaging 52.57% at Hospital A and 49.70% at Hospital B, indicating a critical gap in early sepsis recognition and adherence to standardized protocols.
The educational intervention phase involved a one-month structured training program for nursing staff, focusing on sepsis pathophysiology, early recognition, and evidence-based treatment guidelines, including the Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommendations. The training emphasized timely sepsis screening, appropriate documentation, and escalation of care protocols, integrating case-based learning and interactive workshops to reinforce key concepts. The post-education audit, conducted over three months, demonstrated a substantial improvement in documentation accuracy and protocol adherence, with rates increasing to 88.33% at Hospital A and 81.56% at Hospital B. Additionally, the frequency and accuracy of sepsis screening during routine nursing assessments improved significantly, highlighting the effectiveness of education in reinforcing best practices.
This project underscores the critical role of structured education and continuous auditing in bridging gaps in sepsis recognition and management in resource-limited settings. Findings support the integration of ongoing sepsis education and quality improvement initiatives to enhance early detection, reduce treatment delays, and improve patient outcomes. Future efforts should focus on sustaining these improvements through periodic refresher training, automated screening tools, and interprofessional collaboration to standardize sepsis care across rural healthcare settings. By demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted interventions in improving adherence to sepsis protocols, this project provides a replicable framework for other rural hospitals aiming to optimize sepsis care and reduce preventable mortality