SHOCK NCLEX QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
1. A patient is admitted to the emergency a.) Hypovolemic
department after sustaining abdomi-
nal injuries and a broken femur from
a motor vehicle accident. The patient
is pale, diaphoretic, and is not talking
coherently. Vital signs upon admission
are temperature 98 F (36 C), heart rate
130 beats/minute, respiratory rate 34
breaths/minute, blood pressure 50/40
mmHg. The healthcare provider sus-
pects which type of shock?
a.) Hypovolemic
b.) Cardiogenic
c.) Neurogenic
d.) Distributive
2. The healthcare provider is caring for d.) Increase the IV infusion rate
a patient with a diagnosis of hemor-
rhagic pancreatitis. The patient's cen-
tral venous pressure (CVP) reading is
2, blood pressure is 90/50 mmHg, lung
sounds are clear, and jugular veins are
flat. Which of these actions is most ap-
propriate for the nurse to take?
a.) Slow the IV infusion rate
b.) Administer dopamine
c.) No interventions are needed at this
time
d.) Increase the IV infusion rate
3. A patient who has pericarditis related c.) Obstructive
to radiation therapy, becomes dyspne-
ic, and has a rapid, weak pulse. Heart Rationale:
sounds are muffled, and a 12 mmHg Obstructive shock can be caused
drop in blood pressure is noted on by anything that impedes the
inspiration. The healthcare provider's heart's ability to contract and
interventions are aimed at preventing
, SHOCK NCLEX QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
which type of shock? pump blood around the body, as
with cardiac tamponade.
a.) Distributive
b.) Neurogenic
c.) Obstructive
d.) Cardiogenic
4. The healthcare provider is caring for c.) IV fluids to increase intravascu-
a patient who has septic shock. Which lar volume.
of these should the healthcare provider
administer to the patient first? Rationale:
Circulation and perfusion are ad-
a.) Antibiotics to treat the underlying dressed first so IV fluids will be
infection. started immediately. After blood
b.) Corticosteroids to reduce inflamma- cultures are obtained, broad-spec-
tion. trum antibiotics should be admin-
c.) IV fluids to increase intravascular istered without delay. Vasopres-
volume. sors are administered if the patient
d.) Vasopressors to increase blood is not responding to the fluid chal-
pressure. lenge. Corticosteroids may be con-
sidered to address the inflamma-
tory-induced vasodilation and cap-
illary leakage.
5. A 4.5 kg infant is admitted to the pedi- c.) Establish vascular access
atric intensive care unit after 33 days
of watery diarrhea. The infant is diag- Rationale:
nosed with severe dehydration. The in- Vascular access should be es-
fant's skin is mottled and turgor is poor. tablished quickly in order to re-
Capillary refill is delayed, and there is place lost volume before shock
an absence of tears with crying. Which progresses.
intervention should be the priority ac-
tion by the healthcare provider?
a.) Calculate the mean arterial pressure
b.) Draw blood for a complete blood
count
c.) Establish vascular access
d.) Take a complete set of vital signs
, 6. Which of the following assessment c.) Tachycardia
findings is an early indication of hypo-
volemic shock? Rationale:
Tachycardia is an early symptom
a.) Diminished bowel sounds as the body compensates for a
b.) Increased urinary output declining blood pressure the heart
c.) Tachycardia rate increases to circulate the
d.) Hypertension blood faster to prevent tissue hy-
poxia.
7. When compensatory mechanisms for d.) Cardiac output (CO) and blood
hypovolemic shock are activated, the pressure (BP).
nurse would expect which two patient
findings to normalize?
a.) Intensity of peripheral pulses and
body temperature.
b.) Peripheral pulses and heart rate
(HR).
c.) Metabolic alkalosis and oxygen sat-
uration.
d.) Cardiac output (CO) and blood pres-
sure (BP).
8. Which type of fluid is most appro- a.) Lactated Ringers (LR)
priate for volume replacement for a
patient with non-hemorrhagic hypov-
olemic shock?
a.) Lactated Ringers (LR)
b.) 10% Dextrose in Water (D 10 W)
c.) One-half Normal Saline (1/2% NS)
d.) Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBC)
9. A client is progressing into the third c.) Demonstrating MODS.
stage of shock. The nurse will expect d.) Buildup of metabolic wastes.
this client to demonstrate:
Choose all that apply:
1. A patient is admitted to the emergency a.) Hypovolemic
department after sustaining abdomi-
nal injuries and a broken femur from
a motor vehicle accident. The patient
is pale, diaphoretic, and is not talking
coherently. Vital signs upon admission
are temperature 98 F (36 C), heart rate
130 beats/minute, respiratory rate 34
breaths/minute, blood pressure 50/40
mmHg. The healthcare provider sus-
pects which type of shock?
a.) Hypovolemic
b.) Cardiogenic
c.) Neurogenic
d.) Distributive
2. The healthcare provider is caring for d.) Increase the IV infusion rate
a patient with a diagnosis of hemor-
rhagic pancreatitis. The patient's cen-
tral venous pressure (CVP) reading is
2, blood pressure is 90/50 mmHg, lung
sounds are clear, and jugular veins are
flat. Which of these actions is most ap-
propriate for the nurse to take?
a.) Slow the IV infusion rate
b.) Administer dopamine
c.) No interventions are needed at this
time
d.) Increase the IV infusion rate
3. A patient who has pericarditis related c.) Obstructive
to radiation therapy, becomes dyspne-
ic, and has a rapid, weak pulse. Heart Rationale:
sounds are muffled, and a 12 mmHg Obstructive shock can be caused
drop in blood pressure is noted on by anything that impedes the
inspiration. The healthcare provider's heart's ability to contract and
interventions are aimed at preventing
, SHOCK NCLEX QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
which type of shock? pump blood around the body, as
with cardiac tamponade.
a.) Distributive
b.) Neurogenic
c.) Obstructive
d.) Cardiogenic
4. The healthcare provider is caring for c.) IV fluids to increase intravascu-
a patient who has septic shock. Which lar volume.
of these should the healthcare provider
administer to the patient first? Rationale:
Circulation and perfusion are ad-
a.) Antibiotics to treat the underlying dressed first so IV fluids will be
infection. started immediately. After blood
b.) Corticosteroids to reduce inflamma- cultures are obtained, broad-spec-
tion. trum antibiotics should be admin-
c.) IV fluids to increase intravascular istered without delay. Vasopres-
volume. sors are administered if the patient
d.) Vasopressors to increase blood is not responding to the fluid chal-
pressure. lenge. Corticosteroids may be con-
sidered to address the inflamma-
tory-induced vasodilation and cap-
illary leakage.
5. A 4.5 kg infant is admitted to the pedi- c.) Establish vascular access
atric intensive care unit after 33 days
of watery diarrhea. The infant is diag- Rationale:
nosed with severe dehydration. The in- Vascular access should be es-
fant's skin is mottled and turgor is poor. tablished quickly in order to re-
Capillary refill is delayed, and there is place lost volume before shock
an absence of tears with crying. Which progresses.
intervention should be the priority ac-
tion by the healthcare provider?
a.) Calculate the mean arterial pressure
b.) Draw blood for a complete blood
count
c.) Establish vascular access
d.) Take a complete set of vital signs
, 6. Which of the following assessment c.) Tachycardia
findings is an early indication of hypo-
volemic shock? Rationale:
Tachycardia is an early symptom
a.) Diminished bowel sounds as the body compensates for a
b.) Increased urinary output declining blood pressure the heart
c.) Tachycardia rate increases to circulate the
d.) Hypertension blood faster to prevent tissue hy-
poxia.
7. When compensatory mechanisms for d.) Cardiac output (CO) and blood
hypovolemic shock are activated, the pressure (BP).
nurse would expect which two patient
findings to normalize?
a.) Intensity of peripheral pulses and
body temperature.
b.) Peripheral pulses and heart rate
(HR).
c.) Metabolic alkalosis and oxygen sat-
uration.
d.) Cardiac output (CO) and blood pres-
sure (BP).
8. Which type of fluid is most appro- a.) Lactated Ringers (LR)
priate for volume replacement for a
patient with non-hemorrhagic hypov-
olemic shock?
a.) Lactated Ringers (LR)
b.) 10% Dextrose in Water (D 10 W)
c.) One-half Normal Saline (1/2% NS)
d.) Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBC)
9. A client is progressing into the third c.) Demonstrating MODS.
stage of shock. The nurse will expect d.) Buildup of metabolic wastes.
this client to demonstrate:
Choose all that apply:
