Sepsis Recognition & “Time Zero” for Nurses (1.0 CE)

Time Zero starts the clock. This one-hour CE gives bedside nurses a sharp, practical method to recognize sepsis early, declare Time Zero, and launch the care pathway—complete with a notify/activate workflow, SBAR script, and a concise SEP‑1 phrase bank you can drop into the chart.

Author: NIHE Faculty
Target Audience: RN, APRN, LPN/LVN
Contact Hours: 1.0
Course Created On: October 15, 2025
Course Expires On: October 14, 2027

Course Description
Sepsis is a time-sensitive emergency. Nurses are often the first to notice pattern changes—fever or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, mental status changes, hypotension, or a new oxygen need. Declaring Time Zero establishes the official onset for bundle timing (cultures, antibiotics, fluids, lactate, reassessment). This course walks you through rapid screening, confirming suspected infection, and precisely documenting Time Zero so downstream care and quality reporting align. You’ll practice short, high-clarity language to notify the team, activate the response, and chart key timestamps in discoverable EHR fields.

Completion Requirements
Read the entire course.
Complete all review questions and course evaluation.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest and Relevant Financial Relationships
Neither National Institute for Healthcare Education nor any authors, planners, content experts, or contributors have any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Accreditation Statement
National Institute for Healthcare Education is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #13886, for continuing education credit.

Disclaimer
The information provided in this course is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a healthcare provider in considering diagnosis and treatment options for a particular patient’s medical condition. Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. No part of the materials may be reproduced without the express written consent of TopNurseCE.com Professional Educational Institution. The content of this course is intended to provide general information on the topics covered. This information has been prepared by experts with practical experience in the subject matter. This should not be considered medical, legal, or professional advice. TopNurseCE.com recommends that individuals contact a licensed medical, legal, or professional provider in their respective state. While TopNurseCE.com uses reasonable efforts to ensure that all content provided in this course is accurate and current at the time of publication, TopNurseCE.com makes no representations as to its applicability to your particular situation. No guarantees are given and reliance on them does not constitute liability. Testimonials are collected from feedback surveys submitted by customers. The model presented is for representation purposes and is not intended for actual customers.

Course Outline

1) Rapid Recognition: When patterns point to sepsis (screening cues + suspected infection)
2) Declaring Time Zero: Criteria, confirmation, and documentation
3) Notify/Activate Workflow: SBAR and team roles in the first minutes
4) SEP‑1 Phrase Bank & EHR Field Map: Charting that passes review
5) Case Mini‑Scenario & Review the Concept questions

Learning Objectives
After completing this activity, the learner will be able to:
1. Identify clinical patterns that should trigger a sepsis screen and suspected source assessment.
2. State the definition of Time Zero and document it with a precise timestamp in the EHR.
3. Use an SBAR script to notify the team and activate the pathway within minutes of Time Zero.
4. Apply a short SEP‑1 phrase bank and field map so key actions and times are discoverable in the chart.