Nokea
The nurse is caring for a patient whose progressing infection places her at high risk for shock. What assessment finding would the nurse consider a potential sign of shock?
- A. Elevated systolic blood pressure
- B. Elevated mean arterial pressure (MAP)
- C. Shallow, rapid respirations
- D. Bradycardia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A symptom of shock is shallow, rapid respirations. Systolic blood pressure drops in shock, and MAP is less than 65 mm Hg. Bradycardia occurs in neurogenic shock; other states of shock have tachycardia as a symptom. Infection can lead to septic shock.
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A patient who is in shock is receiving dopamine in addition to IV fluids. What principle should inform the nurses care planning during the administration of a vasoactive drug?
- A. The drug should be discontinued immediately after blood pressure increases.
- B. The drug dose should be tapered down once vital signs improve.
- C. The patient should have arterial blood gases drawn every 10 minutes during treatment.
- D. The infusion rate should be titrated according the patients subjective sensation of adequate perfusion.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: When vasoactive medications are discontinued, they should never be stopped abruptly because this could cause severe hemodynamic instability, perpetuating the shock state. Subjective assessment data are secondary to objective data. Arterial blood gases should be carefully monitored, but every 10-minute draws are not the norm.
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 admitted with cardiogenic shock. The patient is experiencing chest pain and there is an order for the administration of morphine. In addition to pain control, what is the main rationale for administering morphine to this patient?
- A. It promotes coping and slows catecholamine release.
- B. It stimulates the patient so he or she is more alert.
- C. It decreases gastric secretions.
- D. It dilates the blood vessels.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: For patients experiencing chest pain, morphine is the drug of choice because it dilates the blood vessels and controls the patients anxiety. Morphine would not be ordered to promote coping or to stimulate the patient. The rationale behind using morphine would not be to decrease gastric secretions.
In an acute care setting, the nurse is assessing an unstable patient. When prioritizing the patients care, the nurse should recognize that the patient is at risk for hypovolemic shock in which of the following circumstances?
- A. Fluid volume circulating in the blood vessels decreases.
- B. There is an uncontrolled increase in cardiac output.
- C. Blood pressure regulation becomes irregular.
- D. The patient experiences tachycardia and a bounding pulse.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypovolemic shock is characterized by a decrease in intravascular volume. Cardiac output is decreased, blood pressure decreases, and pulse is fast, but weak.
A patient is being treated in the ICU for neurogenic shock secondary to a spinal cord injury. Despite aggressive interventions, the patients mean arterial pressure (MAP) has fallen to 55 mm Hg. The nurse should gauge the onset of acute kidney injury by referring to what laboratory findings? Select all that apply.
- A. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level
- B. Urine specific gravity
- C. Alkaline phosphatase level
- D. Creatinine level
- E. Serum albumin level
Correct Answer: A,B,D
Rationale: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by an increase in BUN and serum creatinine levels, fluid and electrolyte shifts, acid-base imbalances, and a loss of the renal-hormonal regulation of BP. Urine specific gravity is also affected. Alkaline phosphatase and albumin levels are related to hepatic function.