Nokea
The ICU nurse is caring for a patient in neurogenic shock following an overdose of antianxiety medication. When assessing this patient, the nurse should recognize what characteristic of neurogenic shock?
- A. Hypertension
- B. Cool, moist skin
- C. Bradycardia
- D. Signs of sympathetic stimulation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In neurogenic shock, the sympathetic system is not able to respond to body stressors. Therefore, the clinical characteristics of neurogenic shock are signs of parasympathetic stimulation. It is characterized by dry, warm skin rather than the cool, moist skin seen in hypovolemic shock. Another characteristic is hypotension with bradycardia, rather than the tachycardia that characterizes other forms of shock.
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The nurse is caring for a patient in the ICU whose condition is deteriorating. The nurse receives orders to initiate an infusion of dopamine. What would be the priority assessment and interventions specific to the administration of vasoactive medications?
- A. Frequent monitoring of vital signs, monitoring the central line site, and providing accurate drug titration
- B. Reviewing medications, performing a focused cardiovascular assessment, and providing patient education
- C. Reviewing the laboratory findings, monitoring urine output, and assessing for peripheral edema
- D. Routine monitoring of vital signs, monitoring the peripheral IV site, and providing early discharge instructions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When vasoactive medications are administered, vital signs must be monitored frequently (at least every 15 minutes until stable, or more often if indicated). Vasoactive medications should be administered through a central venous line because infiltration and extravasation of some vasoactive medications can cause tissue necrosis and sloughing. An IV pump should be used to ensure that the medications are delivered safely and accurately. Individual medication dosages are usually titrated by the nurse, who adjusts drip rates based on the prescribed dose and the patients response. Reviewing medications, performing a focused cardiovascular assessment, and providing patient education are important nursing tasks, but they are not specific to the administration of IV vasoactive drugs. Reviewing the laboratory findings, monitoring urine output, and assessing for peripheral edema are not the priorities for administration of IV vasoactive drugs. Vital signs are taken on a frequent basis when monitoring administration of IV vasoactive drugs, vasoactive medications should be administered through a central venous line, and early discharge instructions would be inappropriate in this time of crisis.
The acute care nurse is providing care for an adult patient who is in hypovolemic shock. The nurse recognizes that antidiuretic hormone (ADH) plays a significant role in this health problem. What assessment finding will the nurse likely observe related to the role of the ADH during hypovolemic shock?
- A. Increased hunger
- B. Decreased thirst
- C. Decreased urinary output
- D. Increased capillary perfusion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: During hypovolemic shock, a state of hypernatremia occurs. Hypernatremia stimulates the release of ADH by the pituitary gland. ADH causes the kidneys to retain water further in an effort to raise blood volume and blood pressure. In a hypovolemic state the body shifts blood away from anything that is not a vital organ, so hunger is not an issue; thirst is increased as the body tries to increase fluid volume; and capillary perfusion decreases as the body shunts blood away from the periphery and to the vital organs.
The nurse is transferring a patient who is in the progressive stage of shock into ICU from the medical unit. The medical nurse is aware that shock affects many organ systems and that nursing management of the patient will focus on what intervention?
- A. Reviewing the cause of shock and prioritizing the patients psychosocial needs
- B. Assessing and understanding shock and the significant changes in assessment data to guide the plan of care
- C. Giving the prescribed treatment, but shifting focus to providing family time as the patient is unlikely to survive
- D. Promoting the patients coping skills in an effort to better deal with the physiologic changes accompanying shock
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing care of patients in the progressive stage of shock requires expertise in assessing and understanding shock and the significance of changes in assessment data. Early interventions are essential to the survival of patients in shock; thus, suspecting that a patient may be in shock and reporting subtle changes in assessment are imperative. Psychosocial needs, such as coping, are important considerations, but they are not prioritized over physiologic health.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is exhibiting signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock following injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident. The nurse anticipates that the physician will promptly order the administration of a crystalloid IV solution to restore intravascular volume. In addition to normal saline, which crystalloid fluid is commonly used to treat hypovolemic shock?
- A. Lactated Ringers
- B. Albumin
- C. Dextran
- D. 3% NaCl
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Crystalloids are electrolyte solutions used for the treatment of hypovolemic shock. Lactated Ringers and0.9\%$ sodium chloride are isotonic crystalloid fluids commonly used to manage hypovolemic shock. Dextran and albumin are colloids, but Dextran, even as a colloid, is not indicated for the treatment of hypovolemic shock.3\% \mathrm{NaCl}$ is a hypertonic solution and is not isotonic.
You are precepting a new graduate nurse in the ICU. You are collaborating in the care of a patient who is receiving large volumes of crystalloid fluid to treat hypovolemic shock. In light of this intervention, for what sign would you teach the new nurse to monitor the patient?
- A. Hypothermia
- B. Bradycardia
- C. Coffee ground emesis
- D. Pain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Temperature should be monitored closely to ensure that rapid fluid resuscitation does not precipitate hypothermia. IV fluids may need to be warmed during the administration of large volumes. The nurse should monitor the patient for cardiovascular overload and pulmonary edema when large volumes of IV solution are administered. Coffee ground emesis is an indication of a GI bleed, not shock. Pain is related to cardiogenic shock.