Sept. 25, 2025

Why nurse-initiated sepsis protocols are transforming patient care and hospital efficiency

Chief nursing officer Rhonda Collins discusses her article "." Rhonda explains why sepsis, the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals and a $62 billion annual burden, demands the same urgency as stroke and STEMI. She highlights the power of...

Chief nursing officer Rhonda Collins discusses her article "Nurse-initiated protocols for sepsis: a strategic imperative for patient care and hospital operations." Rhonda explains why sepsis, the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals and a $62 billion annual burden, demands the same urgency as stroke and STEMI. She highlights the power of nurse-initiated standing orders to speed recognition and treatment, reduce ED congestion, improve outcomes and cut costs. Drawing on real-world results from Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, she shows how standardized sepsis protocols supported by FDA-cleared technology reduced mortality by 39 percent, shortened length of stay and saved thousands per patient. Rhonda emphasizes that national standardization, objective tools and empowering nurses to practice at the top of their license are essential to making sepsis the "third S" in emergency care.

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