Nokea
The community health nurse finds the client collapsed outdoors. The nurse assesses that the client is shallow breathing and has a weak pulse. Emergency medical services (EMS) is notified by the neighbor. Which nursing action is helpful while waiting for the ambulance?
- A. Place a cool compress on head.
- B. Elevate the legs higher than the heart.
- C. Shake the client to arouse.
- D. Cover the client with a blanket.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The client has shallow respiration and a weak pulse implying limited circulation and gas exchange. Most helpful would be to elevate the legs higher than the heart to promote blood perfusion to the heart, lungs, and brain. A cool compress would not be helpful nor would shaking the client to arouse. A client can be covered with a blanket, but this is not the most helpful.
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The nurse is reporting the current nursing assessment to the physician. Vital signs: temperature, $97.2^{\circ} \mathrm{F}$; pulse, 68 beats/minute, thready; respiration, 28 breaths/minute, blood pressure, $102 / 78 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}$; and pedal pulses, palpable. The physician asks for the pulse pressure. Which would the nurse report?
- A. Within normal limits
- B. Thready
- C. 24
- D. Palpable
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The pulse pressure is the numeric difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. By subtracting the two numbers, the physician would be told 24 . The pulse pressure does not report quality of the pulse.
The nurse is administering a medication to the client with a positive inotropic effect. Which action of the medication does the nurse anticipate?
- A. Slow the heart rate
- B. Increase the force of myocardial contraction
- C. Depress the central nervous system
- D. Dilate the bronchial tree
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse realizes that when administering a medication with a positive inotropic effect, the medication increases the force of heart muscle contraction. The heart rate increases not decreases. The central nervous system is not depressed nor is there a dilation of the bronchial tree.
The nurse is caring for a client with shock accompanied by lung congestion. How would the nurse position this client?
- A. Completely supine
- B. Low Fowler's with legs flat
- C. Supine with lower extremities raised to approximately $45^{\circ}$
- D. Semi-Fowler's with lower extremities raised to approximately $15^{\circ}$
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: For a client with shock accompanied by lung congestion, the nurse should raise the client's upper body to approximately $45^{\circ}$ and lower extremities to approximately $15^{\circ}$. Elevating the upper body lowers the diaphragm and provides more room for lung expansion and gas exchange. Elevating the head reduces intracranial pressure. Elevating the legs promotes blood perfusion to the heart, lungs, and brain.
The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with shock. During report, the nurse reports the results of which assessment(s) that signal early signs of the decompensation stage? Select all that apply.
- A. Vital signs
- B. Nutrition
- C. Skin color
- D. Gait
- E. Urine output
- F. Peripheral pulses
Correct Answer: A,C,E,F
Rationale: Although shock can develop and progress quickly, the nurse monitors evidence of early signs that blood volume and circulation is becoming compromised. Vital signs, skin color, urine output related to blood perfusion of the kidneys, and peripheral pulses all provide assessment data relating blood volume and circulation.
A client presents to the ED in shock. At what point in shock does the nurse know that metabolic acidosis is going to occur?
- A. Compensation
- B. Irreversible
- C. Early
- D. Decompensation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The decompensation stage occurs as compensatory mechanisms fail. The client's condition spirals into cellular hypoxia, coagulation defects, and cardiovascular changes. As the energy supply falls below the demand, pyruvic and lactic acids increase, and pH decreases, causing metabolic acidosis. Therefore, 'compensation', 'irreversible', and 'early' are incorrect.