Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

Early antibiotic administration is critical in the treatment of sepsis. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend administering broad-spectrum antibiotics within the first hour of recognizing severe sepsis and septic shock. While all listed interventions are important in the overall management of a patient with sepsis, the rapid administration of antibiotics has been shown to significantly reduce mortality. Obtaining blood cultures is essential but it should be done before antibiotic administration if it does not significantly delay the antibiotics. Fluid resuscitation is also a key component for the management of sepsis and septic shock; however, it does not take precedence over antibiotic therapy. Regularly monitoring vital signs is important for assessing the patient's response to treatment and making further decisions, but again, it does not precede the urgent need for antibiotics.