9/13/26, 4:52 AM Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Flashcards | Quizlet
b) Elevate the legs higher than the heart 3. The community health nurse finds the client collapsed outdoors. The nurse
assesses that the client is shallow breathing and has a weak pulse. Emergency
The client has shallow respiration and a weak pulse medical services (EMS) is notified by the neighbor. Which nursing action is helpful
implying limited circulation and gas exchange. Most helpful while waiting for the ambulance?
would be to elevate the legs higher than the heart to
promote blood perfusion to the heart, lungs, and brain. A a) Shake the client to arouse
cool compress would not be helpful nor would shaking the b) Elevate the legs higher than the heart
client to arouse. A client can be covered with a blanket, but c) Cover the client with a blanket
this is not the most helpful. d) Place a cool compress on head
a) Encourage the family to touch and talk to the client 4. A client who experienced shock is now nonresponsive and having cardiac
dysrhythmias. The client is being mechanically ventilated, receiving medications to
maintain renal perfusion, and is not responding to treatment. In this stage, it is most
The client is in the irreversible stage of shock and unlikely important for the nurse to
to survive. The family should be encouraged to touch and
talk to the client. A spiritual advisor may be of comfort to a) Encourage the family to touch and talk to the client
the family. However, this is not definite. The second option b) Inform the family that everything is being done to assist with the client's survival
provides false hope of the client's survival to the family as c) Open up discussion among the family members about nursing home placement
does the third option. d) Contact a spiritual advisor to provide comfort to the family
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,9/13/26, 4:52 AM Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Flashcards | Quizlet
c) Organ damage 5. A nurse is evaluating a mechanically ventilated client in the intensive care unit to
identify improvement in the client's condition. Which outcome does the nurse note as
When the body is unable to counteract the effects of the result of inadequate compensatory mechanisms?
shock, further system failure occurs, leading to organ
damage and ultimately death. Liver dysfunction may occur a) Liver dysfunction
as one of the organs that fail. Weight fluctuations may occur b) Unsteady gait
if the client retains fluid or is administered a diuretic. Large c) Organ damage
fluctuations are not noted between shifts. The client's d) Weight loss
unsteady gait is not a result of an inadequate compensatory
mechanism with shock but a result of immobility.
c) Modified Trendelenburg 7. Which positioning strategy should be used for a client diagnosed with
hypovolemic shock?
Pg. 285
a) Supine
A modified Trendelenburg position is recommended in b) Prone
hypovolemic shock. Elevation of the legs promotes the c) Modified Trendelenburg
return of venous blood and can be used as a dynamic d) Semi-Fowler
assessment of a client's fluid responsiveness.
c) Myocardial infarction 8. A nurse practitioner visits a patient in a cardiac care unit. She assesses the patient
for shock, knowing that the primary cause of cardiogenic shock is:
Pg. 287
a) Arrhythmias
Cardiogenic shock is seen most frequently as a result of a b) Cardiomyopathies
myocardial infarction. c) Myocardial infarction
d) Valvular damage
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,9/13/26, 4:52 AM Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Flashcards | Quizlet
b) WBC: 42,000/mm3 10. The nurse is reviewing diagnostic lab work of a client developing shock. Which
laboratory result does the nurse note as a key in determining the type of shock?
Pg. 292
a) Potassium: 4.8 mEq/L
Septic shock has the highest mortality rate and is caused by b) WBC: 42,000/mm3
an overwhelming bacterial infection; thus, an elevated WBC c) ESR: 19 mm/hour
can indicate this type of shock. The other lab values are d) Hemoglobin: 14.2 g/dL
within normal limits.
b) Modified Trendelburg 11. A client experiencing vomiting and diarrhea for 2 days has a blood pressure of
88/56, a pulse rate of 122 beats/minute, and a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/minute.
Pg. 285 The nurse places the client in which position?
The client is experiencing hypovolemic shock as a result of a) Trendelenburg
prolonged vomiting and diarrhea. The modified b) Modified Trendelenburg
Trendelenburg position is recommended for hypovolemic c) Supine
shock because it promotes the return of venous blood. The d) Semi-fowler's
other positions may make breathing difficult and may not
increase blood pressure or cardiac output.
c) A rapid, bounding pulse 12. The nurse is caring for a client in septic shock. The nurse knows to closely monitor
the client. What finding would the nurse observe when the client's condition is in its
Pg. 292 initial stages?
A rapid, bounding pulse is observed in a client in the initial a) A slow but steady pulse
stages of septic shock. In case of hypovolemic shock, the b) A weak and thready pulse
pulse volume becomes weak and thready and circulating c) A rapid, bounding pulse
volume diminishes in the initial stage. In the later stages d) A slow and imperceptible pulse
when the circulating volume has severely diminished, the
pulse becomes slow and imperceptible, and pulse rhythm
changes from regular to irregular.
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, 9/13/26, 4:52 AM Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Flashcards | Quizlet
d) 15 minutes 13. When vasoactive medications are administered, the nurse must monitor vital signs
at least how often?
Pg. 283
a) 45 minutes
When vasoactive medications are administered, the nurse b) Hourly
must monitor vitals frequently (at least every 15 minutes until c) 30 minutes
stable, or more often is indicated). d) 15 minutes
b) Albumin 14. Which colloid is expensive but rapidly expands plasma volume?
Pg. 282 a) Lactated Ringer solution
b) Albumin
Albumin is a colloid that requires human donors, is limited in c) Dextran
supply, and can cause congestive heart failure. Dextran d) Hypertonic saline
interferes with platelet aggregation and is not
recommended for hemorrhagic shock. Lactated Ringer
solution and hypertonic saline are crystalloids, not colloids.
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b) Elevate the legs higher than the heart 3. The community health nurse finds the client collapsed outdoors. The nurse
assesses that the client is shallow breathing and has a weak pulse. Emergency
The client has shallow respiration and a weak pulse medical services (EMS) is notified by the neighbor. Which nursing action is helpful
implying limited circulation and gas exchange. Most helpful while waiting for the ambulance?
would be to elevate the legs higher than the heart to
promote blood perfusion to the heart, lungs, and brain. A a) Shake the client to arouse
cool compress would not be helpful nor would shaking the b) Elevate the legs higher than the heart
client to arouse. A client can be covered with a blanket, but c) Cover the client with a blanket
this is not the most helpful. d) Place a cool compress on head
a) Encourage the family to touch and talk to the client 4. A client who experienced shock is now nonresponsive and having cardiac
dysrhythmias. The client is being mechanically ventilated, receiving medications to
maintain renal perfusion, and is not responding to treatment. In this stage, it is most
The client is in the irreversible stage of shock and unlikely important for the nurse to
to survive. The family should be encouraged to touch and
talk to the client. A spiritual advisor may be of comfort to a) Encourage the family to touch and talk to the client
the family. However, this is not definite. The second option b) Inform the family that everything is being done to assist with the client's survival
provides false hope of the client's survival to the family as c) Open up discussion among the family members about nursing home placement
does the third option. d) Contact a spiritual advisor to provide comfort to the family
https://quizlet.com/832134998/shock-sepsis-and-multiple-organ-dysfunction-syndrome-flash-cards/?funnelUUID=2d383d3e-d914-4d08-9185-05cde973434c 3/33
,9/13/26, 4:52 AM Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Flashcards | Quizlet
c) Organ damage 5. A nurse is evaluating a mechanically ventilated client in the intensive care unit to
identify improvement in the client's condition. Which outcome does the nurse note as
When the body is unable to counteract the effects of the result of inadequate compensatory mechanisms?
shock, further system failure occurs, leading to organ
damage and ultimately death. Liver dysfunction may occur a) Liver dysfunction
as one of the organs that fail. Weight fluctuations may occur b) Unsteady gait
if the client retains fluid or is administered a diuretic. Large c) Organ damage
fluctuations are not noted between shifts. The client's d) Weight loss
unsteady gait is not a result of an inadequate compensatory
mechanism with shock but a result of immobility.
c) Modified Trendelenburg 7. Which positioning strategy should be used for a client diagnosed with
hypovolemic shock?
Pg. 285
a) Supine
A modified Trendelenburg position is recommended in b) Prone
hypovolemic shock. Elevation of the legs promotes the c) Modified Trendelenburg
return of venous blood and can be used as a dynamic d) Semi-Fowler
assessment of a client's fluid responsiveness.
c) Myocardial infarction 8. A nurse practitioner visits a patient in a cardiac care unit. She assesses the patient
for shock, knowing that the primary cause of cardiogenic shock is:
Pg. 287
a) Arrhythmias
Cardiogenic shock is seen most frequently as a result of a b) Cardiomyopathies
myocardial infarction. c) Myocardial infarction
d) Valvular damage
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,9/13/26, 4:52 AM Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Flashcards | Quizlet
b) WBC: 42,000/mm3 10. The nurse is reviewing diagnostic lab work of a client developing shock. Which
laboratory result does the nurse note as a key in determining the type of shock?
Pg. 292
a) Potassium: 4.8 mEq/L
Septic shock has the highest mortality rate and is caused by b) WBC: 42,000/mm3
an overwhelming bacterial infection; thus, an elevated WBC c) ESR: 19 mm/hour
can indicate this type of shock. The other lab values are d) Hemoglobin: 14.2 g/dL
within normal limits.
b) Modified Trendelburg 11. A client experiencing vomiting and diarrhea for 2 days has a blood pressure of
88/56, a pulse rate of 122 beats/minute, and a respiratory rate of 28 breaths/minute.
Pg. 285 The nurse places the client in which position?
The client is experiencing hypovolemic shock as a result of a) Trendelenburg
prolonged vomiting and diarrhea. The modified b) Modified Trendelenburg
Trendelenburg position is recommended for hypovolemic c) Supine
shock because it promotes the return of venous blood. The d) Semi-fowler's
other positions may make breathing difficult and may not
increase blood pressure or cardiac output.
c) A rapid, bounding pulse 12. The nurse is caring for a client in septic shock. The nurse knows to closely monitor
the client. What finding would the nurse observe when the client's condition is in its
Pg. 292 initial stages?
A rapid, bounding pulse is observed in a client in the initial a) A slow but steady pulse
stages of septic shock. In case of hypovolemic shock, the b) A weak and thready pulse
pulse volume becomes weak and thready and circulating c) A rapid, bounding pulse
volume diminishes in the initial stage. In the later stages d) A slow and imperceptible pulse
when the circulating volume has severely diminished, the
pulse becomes slow and imperceptible, and pulse rhythm
changes from regular to irregular.
https://quizlet.com/832134998/shock-sepsis-and-multiple-organ-dysfunction-syndrome-flash-cards/?funnelUUID=2d383d3e-d914-4d08-9185-05cde973434c 5/33
, 9/13/26, 4:52 AM Shock, Sepsis, and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Flashcards | Quizlet
d) 15 minutes 13. When vasoactive medications are administered, the nurse must monitor vital signs
at least how often?
Pg. 283
a) 45 minutes
When vasoactive medications are administered, the nurse b) Hourly
must monitor vitals frequently (at least every 15 minutes until c) 30 minutes
stable, or more often is indicated). d) 15 minutes
b) Albumin 14. Which colloid is expensive but rapidly expands plasma volume?
Pg. 282 a) Lactated Ringer solution
b) Albumin
Albumin is a colloid that requires human donors, is limited in c) Dextran
supply, and can cause congestive heart failure. Dextran d) Hypertonic saline
interferes with platelet aggregation and is not
recommended for hemorrhagic shock. Lactated Ringer
solution and hypertonic saline are crystalloids, not colloids.
https://quizlet.com/832134998/shock-sepsis-and-multiple-organ-dysfunction-syndrome-flash-cards/?funnelUUID=2d383d3e-d914-4d08-9185-05cde973434c 6/33
