NURS 504 Test Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is the biggest implication of shock?
Perfusion
What are the two types of morbidity associated with shock?
Fast burn (e.g., bleeding) and slow burn (e.g., sepsis)
How can early recognition of shock symptoms affect patient outcomes?
It can greatly improve patient outcomes.
What is the first sign of hypoxemia?
Altered level of consciousness (LOC) or restlessness
What vital signs are assessed to evaluate perfusion?
Heart rhythm, blood pressure, peripheral pulses, capillary refill time, skin color, breathing, heart
rate
What skin characteristics indicate impacted perfusion?
Diaphoretic, gray/pale color, bluish lips
What heart rate indicates tachycardia?
Heart rate greater than 90 beats per minute (bpm)
What blood pressure indicates hypotension?
Systolic blood pressure of 90 or less, or a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 65 or less
What is a common arterial blood gas (ABG) finding in shock?
, Some form of acidosis
What are the life-threatening signs of shock?
Severe hypotension and tachycardia
What happens to body cells during shock?
Cells become hypercapnic and switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, resulting in
increased lactic acid production.
What are some complications of shock?
Inadequate tissue perfusion, shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, severe acidosis,
multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), brain damage, ARDS, myocardial pump failure,
DIC, sepsis, paralytic ileus, liver failure, death.
What is hypovolemic shock?
Shock caused by a lack of volume in the circulatory system.
What are common causes of hypovolemic shock?
Acute dehydration, intractable vomiting, significant diarrhea, GI bleed, hemorrhage, trauma.
What is the treatment for hypovolemic shock?
Stop the source of fluid loss and replace volume with blood transfusions or isotonic fluids.
What characterizes distributive shock?
Shock occurs from blood volume being distributed to interstitial tissues, leading to an inability to
perfuse organs.
What is the biggest implication of shock?
Perfusion
What are the two types of morbidity associated with shock?
Fast burn (e.g., bleeding) and slow burn (e.g., sepsis)
How can early recognition of shock symptoms affect patient outcomes?
It can greatly improve patient outcomes.
What is the first sign of hypoxemia?
Altered level of consciousness (LOC) or restlessness
What vital signs are assessed to evaluate perfusion?
Heart rhythm, blood pressure, peripheral pulses, capillary refill time, skin color, breathing, heart
rate
What skin characteristics indicate impacted perfusion?
Diaphoretic, gray/pale color, bluish lips
What heart rate indicates tachycardia?
Heart rate greater than 90 beats per minute (bpm)
What blood pressure indicates hypotension?
Systolic blood pressure of 90 or less, or a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 65 or less
What is a common arterial blood gas (ABG) finding in shock?
, Some form of acidosis
What are the life-threatening signs of shock?
Severe hypotension and tachycardia
What happens to body cells during shock?
Cells become hypercapnic and switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, resulting in
increased lactic acid production.
What are some complications of shock?
Inadequate tissue perfusion, shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, severe acidosis,
multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), brain damage, ARDS, myocardial pump failure,
DIC, sepsis, paralytic ileus, liver failure, death.
What is hypovolemic shock?
Shock caused by a lack of volume in the circulatory system.
What are common causes of hypovolemic shock?
Acute dehydration, intractable vomiting, significant diarrhea, GI bleed, hemorrhage, trauma.
What is the treatment for hypovolemic shock?
Stop the source of fluid loss and replace volume with blood transfusions or isotonic fluids.
What characterizes distributive shock?
Shock occurs from blood volume being distributed to interstitial tissues, leading to an inability to
perfuse organs.
