Chapter 66: Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome
Lewis: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A 78-kg patient with septic shock has a pulse rate of 120 beats/min with low central venous
pressure and pulmonary artery wedge pressure. Urine output has been 30 mL/hr for the past 3
hours. Which order by the health care provider should the nurse question?
a.
Administer furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
b.
Increase normal saline infusion to 250 mL/hr.
c.
Give hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) 100 mg IV.
d.
Titrate norepinephrine to keep systolic blood pressure (BP) above 90 mm Hg.
ANS: A
Furosemide will lower the filling pressures and renal perfusion further for the patient with
septic shock. Patients in septic shock require large amounts of fluid replacement. If the patient
remains hypotensive after initial volume resuscitation with minimally 30 mL/kg, vasopressors
such as norepinephrine may be added. IV corticosteroids may be considered for patients in
septic shock who cannot maintain an adequate BP with vasopressor therapy despite fluid
resuscitation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1600
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
2. A nurse is caring for a patient whose hemodynamic monitoring indicates a blood pressure of
92/54 mm Hg, a pulse of 64 beats/min, and an elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure
(PAWP). Which intervention ordered by the health care provider should the nurse question?
a.
Elevate head of bed to 30 degrees.
b.
Infuse normal saline at 250 mL/hr.
c.
Hold nitroprusside if systolic BP is less than 90 mm Hg.
d.
Titrate dobutamine to keep systolic BP is greater than 90 mm Hg.
ANS: B
The patient’s elevated PAWP indicates volume excess in relation to cardiac pumping ability,
consistent with cardiogenic shock. A saline infusion at 250 mL/hr will exacerbate the volume
excess. The other actions will help to improve cardiac output, which should lower the PAWP
and may raise the BP.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1600
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
3. A patient with massive trauma and possible spinal cord injury is admitted to the emergency
department (ED). Which assessment finding by the nurse will help confirm a diagnosis of
neurogenic shock?
a.
Inspiratory crackles c. Cool, clammy extremities
b.
Heart rate 45 beats/min d. Temperature 101.2°F (38.4°C)
ANS: B
Neurogenic shock is characterized by hypotension and bradycardia. The other findings would
be more consistent with other types of shock.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension) REF: 1590
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
4. An older patient with cardiogenic shock is cool and clammy. Hemodynamic monitoring
indicates a high systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Which intervention should the
nurse anticipate?
a.
Increase the rate for the dopamine infusion.
b.
Decrease the rate for the nitroglycerin infusion.
c.
Increase the rate for the sodium nitroprusside infusion.
d.
Decrease the rate for the 5% dextrose in normal saline (D5/.9 NS) infusion.
ANS: C
Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and will decrease the SVR and afterload, which will
improve cardiac output. Changes in the D5/.9 NS and nitroglycerin infusions will not directly
decrease SVR. Increasing the dopamine will tend to increase SVR.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1599
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
5. After receiving 2 L of normal saline, the central venous pressure for a patient who has septic
shock is 10 mm Hg, but the blood pressure is still 82/40 mm Hg. The nurse will anticipate
an order for
a.
furosemide . c. norepinephrine .
b.
nitroglycerin . d. sodium nitroprusside .
ANS: C
When fluid resuscitation is unsuccessful, vasopressor drugs are given to increase the systemic
vascular resistance (SVR) and blood pressure and improve tissue perfusion. Furosemide
would cause diuresis and further decrease the BP. Nitroglycerin would decrease the preload
and further drop cardiac output and BP. Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and would
further decrease SVR.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1599
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
6. To evaluate the effectiveness of the pantoprazole (Protonix) ordered for a patient with
systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which assessment will the nurse
perform?
a.
Auscultate bowel sounds. c. Check stools for occult blood.
b.
Ask the patient about nausea. d. Palpate for abdominal tenderness.
ANS: C
Proton pump inhibitors are given to decrease the risk for stress ulcers in critically ill patients.
The other assessments will also be done, but these will not help in determining the
effectiveness of the pantoprazole administration.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1606
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
7. A patient with cardiogenic shock has the following vital signs: BP 102/50, pulse 128,
respirations 28. The pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) is increased, and
cardiac output is low. The nurse will anticipate an order for which medication?
Lewis: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A 78-kg patient with septic shock has a pulse rate of 120 beats/min with low central venous
pressure and pulmonary artery wedge pressure. Urine output has been 30 mL/hr for the past 3
hours. Which order by the health care provider should the nurse question?
a.
Administer furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
b.
Increase normal saline infusion to 250 mL/hr.
c.
Give hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) 100 mg IV.
d.
Titrate norepinephrine to keep systolic blood pressure (BP) above 90 mm Hg.
ANS: A
Furosemide will lower the filling pressures and renal perfusion further for the patient with
septic shock. Patients in septic shock require large amounts of fluid replacement. If the patient
remains hypotensive after initial volume resuscitation with minimally 30 mL/kg, vasopressors
such as norepinephrine may be added. IV corticosteroids may be considered for patients in
septic shock who cannot maintain an adequate BP with vasopressor therapy despite fluid
resuscitation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1600
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
2. A nurse is caring for a patient whose hemodynamic monitoring indicates a blood pressure of
92/54 mm Hg, a pulse of 64 beats/min, and an elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure
(PAWP). Which intervention ordered by the health care provider should the nurse question?
a.
Elevate head of bed to 30 degrees.
b.
Infuse normal saline at 250 mL/hr.
c.
Hold nitroprusside if systolic BP is less than 90 mm Hg.
d.
Titrate dobutamine to keep systolic BP is greater than 90 mm Hg.
ANS: B
The patient’s elevated PAWP indicates volume excess in relation to cardiac pumping ability,
consistent with cardiogenic shock. A saline infusion at 250 mL/hr will exacerbate the volume
excess. The other actions will help to improve cardiac output, which should lower the PAWP
and may raise the BP.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1600
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
3. A patient with massive trauma and possible spinal cord injury is admitted to the emergency
department (ED). Which assessment finding by the nurse will help confirm a diagnosis of
neurogenic shock?
a.
Inspiratory crackles c. Cool, clammy extremities
b.
Heart rate 45 beats/min d. Temperature 101.2°F (38.4°C)
ANS: B
Neurogenic shock is characterized by hypotension and bradycardia. The other findings would
be more consistent with other types of shock.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (comprehension) REF: 1590
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
4. An older patient with cardiogenic shock is cool and clammy. Hemodynamic monitoring
indicates a high systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Which intervention should the
nurse anticipate?
a.
Increase the rate for the dopamine infusion.
b.
Decrease the rate for the nitroglycerin infusion.
c.
Increase the rate for the sodium nitroprusside infusion.
d.
Decrease the rate for the 5% dextrose in normal saline (D5/.9 NS) infusion.
ANS: C
Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and will decrease the SVR and afterload, which will
improve cardiac output. Changes in the D5/.9 NS and nitroglycerin infusions will not directly
decrease SVR. Increasing the dopamine will tend to increase SVR.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1599
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
5. After receiving 2 L of normal saline, the central venous pressure for a patient who has septic
shock is 10 mm Hg, but the blood pressure is still 82/40 mm Hg. The nurse will anticipate
an order for
a.
furosemide . c. norepinephrine .
b.
nitroglycerin . d. sodium nitroprusside .
ANS: C
When fluid resuscitation is unsuccessful, vasopressor drugs are given to increase the systemic
vascular resistance (SVR) and blood pressure and improve tissue perfusion. Furosemide
would cause diuresis and further decrease the BP. Nitroglycerin would decrease the preload
and further drop cardiac output and BP. Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and would
further decrease SVR.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1599
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
6. To evaluate the effectiveness of the pantoprazole (Protonix) ordered for a patient with
systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which assessment will the nurse
perform?
a.
Auscultate bowel sounds. c. Check stools for occult blood.
b.
Ask the patient about nausea. d. Palpate for abdominal tenderness.
ANS: C
Proton pump inhibitors are given to decrease the risk for stress ulcers in critically ill patients.
The other assessments will also be done, but these will not help in determining the
effectiveness of the pantoprazole administration.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 1606
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
7. A patient with cardiogenic shock has the following vital signs: BP 102/50, pulse 128,
respirations 28. The pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) is increased, and
cardiac output is low. The nurse will anticipate an order for which medication?
