Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing in Canada, 5th Edition - Nursing Management: Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Related

Review Lewis's Medical Surgical Nursing in Canada, 5th Edition - Nursing Management: Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome related questions and content

Which of the following assessments should the nurse make to evaluate the effectiveness of omeprazole administration to a patient with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)?

  • A. Auscultate bowel sounds
  • B. Ask the patient about nausea
  • C. Monitor stools for occult blood
  • D. Check for abdominal distention
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, is given to reduce the risk of stress ulcers in critically ill patients with SIRS. Monitoring stools for occult blood directly assesses the effectiveness of this intervention by checking for gastrointestinal bleeding. The other assessments are relevant but do not specifically evaluate omeprazole's effectiveness.