Sepsis is the leading cause of death for hospitalized patients. It is estimated, that 1.6 million hospitalized patients are treated for sepsis annually. Sepsis is the leading cause of hospital mortality, and has an associated cost of 400 billion dollars per year in the United States (Lopez-Bushnell, Demaray, & Jaco, 2014, p.9). Sepsis is characterized as an overwhelming infection in the body that disrupts homeostasis by causing profound inflammation and a cascade of symptoms that leads to hypoperfusion, cellular ischemia, organ failure, and death. Since the initial sign of sepsis can be very subtle, early diagnosis is often overlooked. It is critical for nurses and other healthcare providers to detect of early sepsis to assure patients receive
