Using the Delphi technique and critical decisions method to derive nursing student training requirements for sepsis detection in adult patients

• The study aimed to triangulate the training and educational requirements for developing a sepsis curriculum for nursing students using Critical decision method interviews and the Delphi survey. • From the Delphi study, several educational and clinical variables critical for sepsis detection were identified. • Critical Decision Method interviews revealed sepsis clinical signs and cues, expert decisions, characteristics, and perceived challenges in sepsis detection and treatment. • Findings from this study inform the development of a high-fidelity simulation-based training curriculum in nursing schools. At least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis each year, and there exists no widespread training programs for early recognition of infections for sepsis risk reduction. To address this gap, this study focused on triangulating the training and educational requirements to develop simulation-based tools for a novel sepsis curriculum for nursing students. A concurrent two-phase mixed-methods triangulation study was conducted. In phase 1, critical decisions method (CDM) interviews were used to model key sepsis recognition decisions and processes which informed realistic scenarios for simulation training. In phase 2, a Delphi study was conducted with sepsis leaders to systematically gain consensus on training requirements, specifically the mode of training and content of a curriculum for early sepsis recognition.