Why Do Clinicians Miss Sepsis?

What if the way we’re trained to recognize sepsis is part of the problem? Nicole sits down with Kathleen Vollman to unpack how clinician education, documentation habits, and broken workflows contribute to missed or delayed sepsis care. They explore why early signs like low temperature and increased respiratory rate are often ignored, how task-based thinking limits critical assessment, and what it takes to teach sepsis recognition that actually works. A must-listen for anyone leading bedside care, clinical education, or system improvement. Featured Guest: Kathleen Vollman, MSN, RN, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN (https://x.com/kvollman1, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-vollman-3894396/): Clinical nurse specialist and educator advancing sepsis recognition, evidence-based nursing, and critical care leadership. Key Takeaways: Explain the clinical significance of early recognition of infection and sepsis. Discuss appropriate initial assessment steps and escalation protocols for suspected sepsis cases. Interpret common laboratory and diagnostic results to help determine the likely causative pathogen. Explain the importance of multi-disciplinary collaboration among infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and sepsis teams in enhancing early detection, appropriate treatment, and improved outcomes in infectious disease management. Describe how early recognition of infection and sepsis facilitates timely involvement of the antimicrobial stewardship team, leading to more appropriate antimicrobial selection and duration, thereby reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance. — Get in Touch: [e-mail] Or Visit Us At: SepsisPodcast.org Connect with Nicole on Socials: @nicolekupchik Connect with Sepsis Alliance on Socials: @sepsisalliance To Learn More About Sepsis, Visit EndSuperbugs.org Produced by: Human Content and Sepsis Alliance