Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome

Question 1

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with hypovolemic shock. The nurse palpates thready brachial pulses but is unable to auscultate a blood pressure. What is the best nursing action?

Answer 1

Assess the blood pressure by Doppler

Question 2

The nurse has just completed an infusion of a 1000 mL bolus of 0.9% normal saline in a patient with severe sepsis. One hour later, which laboratory result requires immediate nursing action?

Answer 2

Lactate 6 mmol/L

Question 3

The nurse has been administering 0.9% normal saline intravenous fluids as part of early goal-directed therapy protocols in a patient with severe sepsis. To evaluate the effectiveness of fluid therapy, which physiological parameters would be most important for the nurse to assess?

Answer 3

Right atrial pressure and urine output

Question 4

A patient is admitted to the critical care unit following coronary artery bypass surgery. Two hours postoperatively, the nurse assesses the following information: pulse is 120 beats/min; blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg; pulmonary artery diastolic pressure is 2 mm Hg; cardiac output is 4 L/min; urine output is 250 mL/hr; chest drainage is 200 mL/hr. What is the best interpretation by the nurse?

Answer 4

The patient is at risk for developing hypovolemic shock

Question 5

A patient is admitted after collapsing at the end of a summer marathon. She is lethargic, with a heart rate of 110 beats/min, respiratory rate of 30 breaths/min, and a blood pressure of 78/46 mm Hg. The nurse anticipates administering which therapeutic intervention?

Answer 5

Lactated Ringers bolus

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a patient in the early stages of septic shock. The patient is slightly confused and flushed, with bounding peripheral pulses. Which hemodynamic values is the nurse most likely to assess?

Answer 6

Low systemic vascular resistance and high cardiac output

Question 7

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with severe sepsis. Vital signs assessed by the nurse include blood pressure 80/50 mm Hg, heart rate 120 beats/min, respirations 28 breaths/min, oral temperature of 102 F, and a right atrial pressure (RAP) of 1 mm Hg. Assuming physician orders, which intervention should the nurse carry out first?

Answer 7

Isotonic fluid challenge

Question 8

Which patient being cared for in the emergency department is most at risk for developing hypovolemic shock?

Answer 8

A patient with a 2-day history of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

Question 9

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with cardiogenic shock. Hemodynamic readings obtained with a pulmonary artery catheter include a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) of 18 mm Hg and a cardiac
index (CI) of 1.0 L/min/m2. What is the priority pharmacological intervention?

Answer 9

Dobutamine (Dobutrex)

Question 10

Ten minutes following administration of an antibiotic, the nurse assesses a patient to have edematous lips, hoarseness, and expiratory stridor. Vital signs assessed by the nurse include blood pressure 70/40 mm Hg, heart rate 130 beats/min, and respirations 36 breaths/min. What is the priority intervention?

Answer 10

Epinephrine 3 to 5 mL of a 1:10,000 solution intravenously

Question 11

A patient is admitted to the cardiac care unit with an acute anterior myocardial infarction. The nurse assesses the patient to be diaphoretic and tachypneic, with bilateral crackles throughout both lung fields. Following insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter by the physician, which hemodynamic values is the nurse most likely to assess?

Answer 11

High pulmonary artery diastolic pressure and low cardiac output

Question 12

During the initial stages of shock, what are the physiological effects of decreased cardiac output?

Answer 12

Increased sympathetic stimulation

Question 13

While monitoring a patient for signs of shock, the nurse understands which system assessment to be of priority?

Answer 13

Central nervous system

Question 14

The nurse is caring for a patient in cardiogenic shock who is being treated with an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP). The family inquires about the primary reason for the device. What is the best statement by the nurse to explain the IABP?

Answer 14

The action of the machine will improve blood supply to the damaged heart.

Question 15

The nurse is caring for a patient following insertion of an intraaortic balloon pump (IABP) for cardiogenic shock unresponsive to pharmacotherapy. Which hemodynamic parameter best indicates an appropriate response to therapy?

Answer 15

Cardiac index (CI) of 2.5 L/min/m2

Question 16

The nurse is caring for an 18-year-old athlete with a possible cervical spine (C5) injury following a diving accident. The nurse assesses a blood pressure of 70/50 mm Hg, heart rate 45 beats/min, and respirations 26 breaths/min. The patients skin is warm and flushed. What is the best interpretation of these findings by the nurse?

Answer 16

The patient is developing neurogenic shock

Question 17

The nurse is caring for a patient in spinal shock. Vital signs include blood pressure 100/70 mm Hg, heart rate 70 beats/min, respirations 24 breaths/min, oxygen saturation 95% on room air, and an oral temperature of 96.8 F. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in the patients plan of care?

Answer 17

Application of slow rewarming measures

Question 18

The nurse has just completed administration of a 1000-L bolus of 0.9% normal saline. The nurse assesses the patient to be slightly confused, with a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) of 50 mm Hg, a heart rate of 110 beats/min, urine output of 10 mL for the past hour, and a central venous pressure (CVP/RAP) of 3 mm Hg. What is the best interpretation of these results by the nurse?

Answer 18

Additional interventions are indicated

Question 19

The emergency department nurse admits a patient following a motor vehicle collision. Vital signs include blood pressure 70/50 mm Hg, heart rate 140 beats/min, respiratory rate 36 breaths/min, temperature 101 F and oxygen saturation (SpO2) 95% on 3 L of oxygen per nasal cannula. Laboratory results include hemoglobin 6.0 g/dL, hematocrit 20%, and potassium 4.0 mEq/L. Based on this assessment, what is most important for the nurse to include in the patients plan of care?

Answer 19

Insertion of an 18-gauge peripheral intravenous line

Question 20

The nurse is starting to administer a unit of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) to a patient admitted in hypovolemic shock secondary to hemorrhage. Vital signs include blood pressure 60/40 mm Hg, heart rate 150 beats/min, respirations 42 breaths/min, and temperature 100.6 F. What is the best action by the nurse?

Answer 20

Titrate rate of blood administration to patient response

Question 21

The nurse is caring for a patient in septic shock. The nurse assesses the patient to have a blood pressure of 105/60 mm Hg, heart rate 110 beats/min, respiratory rate 32 breaths/min, oxygen saturation (SpO2) 95% on 45% supplemental oxygen via Venturi mask, and a temperature of 102 F. The physician orders stat administration of an antibiotic. Which additional physician order should the nurse complete first?

Answer 21

Blood cultures

Question 22

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the critical care unit 48 hours ago with a diagnosis of severe sepsis. As part of this patients care plan, what intervention is most important for the nurse to discuss with the multidisciplinary care team?

Answer 22

Enteral feedings

Question 23

The nurse is administering both crystalloid and colloid intravenous fluids as part of fluid resuscitation in a patient admitted in severe sepsis. What findings assessed by the nurse indicate an appropriate response to therapy?

Answer 23

Urine output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr

Question 24

The nurse is caring for a 70-kg patient in hypovolemic shock. Upon initial assessment, the nurse notes a blood pressure of 90/50 mm Hg, heart rate 125 beats/min, respirations 32 breaths/min, central venous pressure (CVP/RAP) of 3 mm Hg, and urine output of 5 mL during the past hour. Following physician rounds, the nurse reviews the orders and questions which order?

Answer 24

Titrate dopamine (Intropin) intravenously for blood pressure < 90 mm Hg systolic

Question 25

The nurse is administering intravenous norepinephrine (Levophed) at 5 mcg/kg/min via a 20-gauge peripheral intravenous (IV) catheter. What assessment finding requires immediate action by the nurse?

Answer 25

Swelling at the IV site

Question 26

The nurse is caring for a patient in cardiogenic shock experiencing chest pain. Hemodynamic values assessed by the nurse include a cardiac index (CI) of 2.5 L/min/m2, heart rate of 70 beats/min, and a systemic
vascular resistance (SVR) of 2200 dynes/sec/cm-5. Upon review of physician orders, which order is most appropriate for the nurse to initiate?

Answer 26

Nitroglycerin infusion titrated at a rate of 5-10 mcg/min as needed for chest pain

Question 27

The nurse is caring for a mechanically ventilated patient following insertion of a left subclavian central venous catheter (CVC). What action by the nurse best protects against the development of a central lineassociated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)?

Answer 27

Documentation of insertion date

Question 28

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted with the early stages of septic shock. The nurse assesses the patient to be tachypneic, with a respiratory rate of 32 breaths/min. Arterial blood gas values assessed on admission are pH 7.50, CO2 28 mm Hg, HCO3 26. Which diagnostic study result reviewed by the nurse indicates progression of the shock state?

Answer 28

pH 7.30, CO2 45, HCO3 18

Question 29

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted following a motor vehicle crash. Over the past 2 hours, the patient has received 6 units of packed red blood cells and 4 units of fresh frozen plasma by rapid infusion. To prevent complications, what is the priority nursing intervention?

Answer 29

Assess core body temperature

Question 30

The nurse is caring for a patient in cardiogenic shock who is being treated with an infusion of dobutamine (Dobutrex). The physicians order calls for the nurse to titrate the infusion to achieve a cardiac index of >2.5
L/min/m2. The nurse measures a cardiac output, and the calculated cardiac index for the patient is 4.6 L/min/m2. What is the best action by the nurse?

Answer 30

Reduce the rate of dobutamine (Dobutrex).

Question 31

After receiving a handoff report from the night shift, the nurse completes the morning assessment of a patient with severe sepsis. Vital sign assessment notes blood pressure 95/60 mm Hg, heart rate 110 beats/min, respirations 32 breaths/min, oxygen saturation (SpO2) 96% on 45% oxygen via Venturi mask, temperature 101.5 F, central venous pressure (CVP/RAP) 2 mm Hg, and urine output of 10 mL for the past hour. The nurse initiates which active physician order first

Answer 31

Administer infusion of 500 mL 0.9% normal saline every 4 hours as needed if the CVP is < 5 mm Hg.

Question 32

The nurse is caring for a patient with severe sepsis who was resuscitated with 3000 mL of lactated Ringer solution over the past 4 hours. Morning laboratory results show a hemoglobin of 8 g/dL and hematocrit of 28%. What is the best interpretation of these findings by the nurse?

Answer 32

Hemoglobin and hematocrit results indicate hemodilution.

Question 33

Fifteen minutes after beginning a transfusion of O negative blood to a patient in shock, the nurse assesses a drop in the patients blood pressure to 60/40 mm Hg, heart rate 135 beats/min, respirations 40 breaths/min, and a temperature of 102 F. The nurse notes the new onset of hematuria in the patients Foley catheter. What are the priority nursing actions? (Select all that apply.)

Answer 33

b. Document the patients response.
d. Notify the blood bank.
e. Notify the physician.
f. Stop the transfusion.

Question 34

The nurse is caring for a young adult patient admitted with shock. The nurse understands which assessment findings best assess tissue perfusion in a patient in shock? (Select all that apply.)

Answer 34

a. Blood pressure
c. Level of consciousness
f. Urine output