Virginia Western Community College
AAS in Nursing Program
NSG 270 - Pre-Sim Assignment-Spring 2026
Case Study (Sepsis/Septic Shock): Complete the assignment that follows
and bring to your assigned F2F Sim Lab. Be prepared to discuss your
answers.
1. Read the Nurses Notes and Vital Sign Results below. Highlight the significant
information and vital signs that should be reported to the health care
provider.
Nurses Notes:
A 31-year-old female brought to the emergency department by her friend for
treatment of a suspected foot infection. The friend reports that the patient cut
the bottom of her right foot on a broken piece of glass while walking on a beach
3 days ago. The friend states when patient got out of bed this morning, her foot
was too painful to walk on and the cut was seeping thick, yellow drainage.
PMH as reported by friend: Patient has no medical problems that she is aware of.
Does not use tobacco products, drink alcohol, or use illicit drugs.
The initial nursing assessment reveals the following:
Lungs clear to auscultation. Awake but drowsy. Oriented to person and place
(unsure of date/time). Patient rates right foot pain an 8/10 and describes it as a
constant throbbing. Right foot and ankle are edematous (non-pitting), reddened,
hot, and tender to touch. Scant amount of thick, yellow drainage noted from
2mm jagged open area on sole of right foot. Patient complains of feeling
nauseated and a little short of breath. Skin is pale and diaphoretic.
Vital Signs Result
Oral temperature 101.5°F
Heart rate 120/regular
Respiratory rate 26
Blood pressure 88/42
SpO2 92% on room
air
Weight 175 lb (79.54
kg)
Height 5 feet 9
inches
2. In response to the patient’s assessment findings, the health care provider
orders several procedures, including a CBC, BMP, serum lactate, coagulation
1
, profile, chest x-ray, ECG, C&S of right foot wound, ABGs, urine C&S,
indwelling urinary catheter, and blood cultures x 2.
Write the normal lab values in the left hand column and place a checkmark
in the right-hand
column for the laboratory findings that are MOST suggestive of sepsis.
Explain the rationale for
your choices.
Normal Values Laboratory Result Check (if
abnormal)
134-145 mEq/L Sodium 148 mEq/L High
3.5-5mEq/L Potassium 4.8 mEq/L Normal
0.6-1.3 mg/dL Creatinine 1.8 mg/dL X (AKI)
70-110mg/dL Serum 128 mg/dL X (stress
glucose response)
4000-1100/mm3 WBC’s 3,800/mm3 X (late/severe
infection)
150,000-400,000/ Platelets 132,000/ X (common in
mm3 mm3 severe sepsis)
0.5-2.0mmol/L Serum 4 mmol/L X (indicates
lactate poor tissue
perfusion)
Rationale for your choice(s):
See chart
3. Complete the following sentence using the word choices listed in the table
below.
The nurse anticipates the patient’s top two (2) priorities for care as:
__Prevent further infection_ and __Improve tissue perfusion __.
Explain the rationale for your choices.
Word Choices
Improve tissue perfusion AN Prevent further infection
Decrease serum glucose D Decrease the patent’s anxiety
Reorient the patient Provide explanations to the friend
Rationale for your choice(s):
2
AAS in Nursing Program
NSG 270 - Pre-Sim Assignment-Spring 2026
Case Study (Sepsis/Septic Shock): Complete the assignment that follows
and bring to your assigned F2F Sim Lab. Be prepared to discuss your
answers.
1. Read the Nurses Notes and Vital Sign Results below. Highlight the significant
information and vital signs that should be reported to the health care
provider.
Nurses Notes:
A 31-year-old female brought to the emergency department by her friend for
treatment of a suspected foot infection. The friend reports that the patient cut
the bottom of her right foot on a broken piece of glass while walking on a beach
3 days ago. The friend states when patient got out of bed this morning, her foot
was too painful to walk on and the cut was seeping thick, yellow drainage.
PMH as reported by friend: Patient has no medical problems that she is aware of.
Does not use tobacco products, drink alcohol, or use illicit drugs.
The initial nursing assessment reveals the following:
Lungs clear to auscultation. Awake but drowsy. Oriented to person and place
(unsure of date/time). Patient rates right foot pain an 8/10 and describes it as a
constant throbbing. Right foot and ankle are edematous (non-pitting), reddened,
hot, and tender to touch. Scant amount of thick, yellow drainage noted from
2mm jagged open area on sole of right foot. Patient complains of feeling
nauseated and a little short of breath. Skin is pale and diaphoretic.
Vital Signs Result
Oral temperature 101.5°F
Heart rate 120/regular
Respiratory rate 26
Blood pressure 88/42
SpO2 92% on room
air
Weight 175 lb (79.54
kg)
Height 5 feet 9
inches
2. In response to the patient’s assessment findings, the health care provider
orders several procedures, including a CBC, BMP, serum lactate, coagulation
1
, profile, chest x-ray, ECG, C&S of right foot wound, ABGs, urine C&S,
indwelling urinary catheter, and blood cultures x 2.
Write the normal lab values in the left hand column and place a checkmark
in the right-hand
column for the laboratory findings that are MOST suggestive of sepsis.
Explain the rationale for
your choices.
Normal Values Laboratory Result Check (if
abnormal)
134-145 mEq/L Sodium 148 mEq/L High
3.5-5mEq/L Potassium 4.8 mEq/L Normal
0.6-1.3 mg/dL Creatinine 1.8 mg/dL X (AKI)
70-110mg/dL Serum 128 mg/dL X (stress
glucose response)
4000-1100/mm3 WBC’s 3,800/mm3 X (late/severe
infection)
150,000-400,000/ Platelets 132,000/ X (common in
mm3 mm3 severe sepsis)
0.5-2.0mmol/L Serum 4 mmol/L X (indicates
lactate poor tissue
perfusion)
Rationale for your choice(s):
See chart
3. Complete the following sentence using the word choices listed in the table
below.
The nurse anticipates the patient’s top two (2) priorities for care as:
__Prevent further infection_ and __Improve tissue perfusion __.
Explain the rationale for your choices.
Word Choices
Improve tissue perfusion AN Prevent further infection
Decrease serum glucose D Decrease the patent’s anxiety
Reorient the patient Provide explanations to the friend
Rationale for your choice(s):
2
