Ch 14 Shock and
multiple organ
dysfunction syndrome
Questions and
answers
A nurse in the ICU is planning the care of a patient who is being
treated for shock. Which of the
following statements best describes the pathophysiology of this
patients health problem?
A) Blood is shunted from vital organs to peripheral areas of the
body.
B) Cells lack an adequate blood supply and are deprived of oxygen
and nutrients.
C) Circulating blood volume is decreased with a resulting change in
the osmotic pressure gradient.
D) Hemorrhage occurs as a result of trauma, depriving vital organs
of adequate perfusion. - answer B
In an acute care setting, the nurse is assessing an unstable patient.
When prioritizing the patients care,
the nurse should recognize that the patient is at risk for
hypovolemic shock in which of the following
circumstances?
A) Fluid volume circulating in the blood vessels decreases.
B) There is an uncontrolled increase in cardiac output.
C) Blood pressure regulation becomes irregular.
,D) The patient experiences tachycardia and a bounding pulse. -
answer A
The emergency nurse is admitting a patient experiencing a GI bleed
who is believed to be in the
compensatory stage of shock. What assessment finding would be
most consistent with the early stage of
compensation?
A) Increased urine output
B) Decreased heart rate
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) Cool, clammy skin - answer D
The nurse is caring for a patient who is exhibiting signs and
symptoms of hypovolemic shock following
injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident. The nurse anticipates
that the physician will promptly order
the administration of a crystalloid IV solution to restore
intravascular volume. In addition to normal
saline, which crystalloid fluid is commonly used to treat
hypovolemic shock?
A) Lactated Ringers
B) Albumin
C) Dextran
D) 3% NaCl - answer A
A patient who is in shock is receiving dopamine in addition to IV
fluids. What principle should inform
the nurses care planning during the administration of a vasoactive
drug?
, A) The drug should be discontinued immediately after blood
pressure increases.
B) The drug dose should be tapered down once vital signs improve.
C) The patient should have arterial blood gases drawn every 10
minutes during treatment.
D) The infusion rate should be titrated according the patients
subjective sensation of adequate
perfusion. - answer B
A nurse in the ICU receives report from the nurse in the ED about a
new patient being admitted with a
neck injury he received while diving into a lake. The ED nurse
reports that his blood pressure is 85/54, heart rate is 53 beats per
minute, and his skin is warm and dry. What does the ICU nurse
recognize that
that patient is probably experiencing?
A) Anaphylactic shock
B) Neurogenic shock
C) Septic shock
D) Hypovolemic shock - answer B
The intensive care nurse caring for a patient in shock is planning
assessments and interventions related
to the patients nutritional needs. What physiologic process
contributes to these increased nutritional
needs?
A) The use of albumin as an energy source by the body because of
the need for increased adenosine
triphosphate (ATP)
B) The loss of fluids due to decreased skin integrity and decreased
stomach acids due to increased
parasympathetic activity
multiple organ
dysfunction syndrome
Questions and
answers
A nurse in the ICU is planning the care of a patient who is being
treated for shock. Which of the
following statements best describes the pathophysiology of this
patients health problem?
A) Blood is shunted from vital organs to peripheral areas of the
body.
B) Cells lack an adequate blood supply and are deprived of oxygen
and nutrients.
C) Circulating blood volume is decreased with a resulting change in
the osmotic pressure gradient.
D) Hemorrhage occurs as a result of trauma, depriving vital organs
of adequate perfusion. - answer B
In an acute care setting, the nurse is assessing an unstable patient.
When prioritizing the patients care,
the nurse should recognize that the patient is at risk for
hypovolemic shock in which of the following
circumstances?
A) Fluid volume circulating in the blood vessels decreases.
B) There is an uncontrolled increase in cardiac output.
C) Blood pressure regulation becomes irregular.
,D) The patient experiences tachycardia and a bounding pulse. -
answer A
The emergency nurse is admitting a patient experiencing a GI bleed
who is believed to be in the
compensatory stage of shock. What assessment finding would be
most consistent with the early stage of
compensation?
A) Increased urine output
B) Decreased heart rate
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) Cool, clammy skin - answer D
The nurse is caring for a patient who is exhibiting signs and
symptoms of hypovolemic shock following
injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident. The nurse anticipates
that the physician will promptly order
the administration of a crystalloid IV solution to restore
intravascular volume. In addition to normal
saline, which crystalloid fluid is commonly used to treat
hypovolemic shock?
A) Lactated Ringers
B) Albumin
C) Dextran
D) 3% NaCl - answer A
A patient who is in shock is receiving dopamine in addition to IV
fluids. What principle should inform
the nurses care planning during the administration of a vasoactive
drug?
, A) The drug should be discontinued immediately after blood
pressure increases.
B) The drug dose should be tapered down once vital signs improve.
C) The patient should have arterial blood gases drawn every 10
minutes during treatment.
D) The infusion rate should be titrated according the patients
subjective sensation of adequate
perfusion. - answer B
A nurse in the ICU receives report from the nurse in the ED about a
new patient being admitted with a
neck injury he received while diving into a lake. The ED nurse
reports that his blood pressure is 85/54, heart rate is 53 beats per
minute, and his skin is warm and dry. What does the ICU nurse
recognize that
that patient is probably experiencing?
A) Anaphylactic shock
B) Neurogenic shock
C) Septic shock
D) Hypovolemic shock - answer B
The intensive care nurse caring for a patient in shock is planning
assessments and interventions related
to the patients nutritional needs. What physiologic process
contributes to these increased nutritional
needs?
A) The use of albumin as an energy source by the body because of
the need for increased adenosine
triphosphate (ATP)
B) The loss of fluids due to decreased skin integrity and decreased
stomach acids due to increased
parasympathetic activity
