Sepsis protocol and vasopressor titration Exam
question
and correct answers (verified answers 100%)
Q&A 2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A patient arrives in the emergency department with suspected septic shock.
Which action should the nurse prioritize first?
A. Administer broad-spectrum antibiotics
B. Obtain blood cultures
C. Begin fluid resuscitation
D. Start vasopressor therapy
Correct Answer: B. Obtain blood cultures
Rationale: Blood cultures should be obtained before antibiotic administration
when possible to identify the causative organism. However, cultures should not
delay antibiotics if this causes significant delay.
2. According to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, broad-spectrum
antibiotics should ideally be administered within:
A. 30 minutes
B. 1 hour
C. 6 hours
D. 12 hours
Correct Answer: B. 1 hour
Rationale: Early antibiotic administration within the first hour of recognizing septic
shock improves outcomes and reduces mortality.
,3. Which assessment finding is most concerning for septic shock progression?
A. Temperature of 38°C (100.4°F)
B. Heart rate of 105/min
C. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 58 mmHg
D. White blood cell count of 14,000/mm³
Correct Answer: C. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 58 mmHg
Rationale: A MAP below 65 mmHg indicates inadequate organ perfusion and is a
key sign of septic shock requiring intervention.
4. The nurse understands that the primary goal of vasopressor therapy in septic
shock is to:
A. Reduce fever
B. Increase cardiac output only
C. Restore adequate tissue perfusion
D. Eliminate infection
Correct Answer: C. Restore adequate tissue perfusion
Rationale: Vasopressors increase vascular tone and blood pressure to improve
organ perfusion when fluids alone are insufficient.
5. Which vasopressor is considered the first-line agent for septic shock?
A. Dopamine
B. Epinephrine
C. Norepinephrine
D. Phenylephrine
Correct Answer: C. Norepinephrine
,Rationale: Norepinephrine is recommended as the first-line vasopressor because it
effectively increases MAP with fewer arrhythmias compared with dopamine.
6. A nurse titrates norepinephrine for a septic patient. Which target MAP is
generally desired?
A. 40 mmHg
B. 50 mmHg
C. 65 mmHg or higher
D. 100 mmHg
Correct Answer: C. 65 mmHg or higher
Rationale: Maintaining MAP ≥65 mmHg supports adequate perfusion of vital
organs in most septic shock patients.
7. A patient receiving norepinephrine develops cool, mottled extremities. What
should the nurse suspect?
A. Improved perfusion
B. Excessive vasoconstriction
C. Fluid overload
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: B. Excessive vasoconstriction
Rationale: High-dose vasopressors may cause peripheral vasoconstriction,
reducing blood flow to extremities.
8. Which laboratory value is most useful for evaluating tissue hypoperfusion in
sepsis?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Serum lactate
, C. Platelet count
D. Sodium level
Correct Answer: B. Serum lactate
Rationale: Elevated lactate indicates impaired oxygen utilization and tissue
hypoperfusion.
9. A septic patient has lactate of 5 mmol/L. The nurse recognizes this finding as:
A. Normal metabolism
B. Possible tissue hypoxia
C. Adequate resuscitation
D. Kidney failure only
Correct Answer: B. Possible tissue hypoxia
Rationale: Elevated lactate suggests anaerobic metabolism caused by inadequate
oxygen delivery or utilization.
10. Which fluid is commonly recommended for initial sepsis resuscitation?
A. 5% dextrose
B. Normal saline or balanced crystalloids
C. Hypertonic saline
D. Albumin only
Correct Answer: B. Normal saline or balanced crystalloids
Rationale: Crystalloids are recommended first-line fluids for restoring circulating
volume in sepsis.
11. A septic patient remains hypotensive after receiving adequate fluids. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate?
question
and correct answers (verified answers 100%)
Q&A 2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A patient arrives in the emergency department with suspected septic shock.
Which action should the nurse prioritize first?
A. Administer broad-spectrum antibiotics
B. Obtain blood cultures
C. Begin fluid resuscitation
D. Start vasopressor therapy
Correct Answer: B. Obtain blood cultures
Rationale: Blood cultures should be obtained before antibiotic administration
when possible to identify the causative organism. However, cultures should not
delay antibiotics if this causes significant delay.
2. According to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines, broad-spectrum
antibiotics should ideally be administered within:
A. 30 minutes
B. 1 hour
C. 6 hours
D. 12 hours
Correct Answer: B. 1 hour
Rationale: Early antibiotic administration within the first hour of recognizing septic
shock improves outcomes and reduces mortality.
,3. Which assessment finding is most concerning for septic shock progression?
A. Temperature of 38°C (100.4°F)
B. Heart rate of 105/min
C. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 58 mmHg
D. White blood cell count of 14,000/mm³
Correct Answer: C. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 58 mmHg
Rationale: A MAP below 65 mmHg indicates inadequate organ perfusion and is a
key sign of septic shock requiring intervention.
4. The nurse understands that the primary goal of vasopressor therapy in septic
shock is to:
A. Reduce fever
B. Increase cardiac output only
C. Restore adequate tissue perfusion
D. Eliminate infection
Correct Answer: C. Restore adequate tissue perfusion
Rationale: Vasopressors increase vascular tone and blood pressure to improve
organ perfusion when fluids alone are insufficient.
5. Which vasopressor is considered the first-line agent for septic shock?
A. Dopamine
B. Epinephrine
C. Norepinephrine
D. Phenylephrine
Correct Answer: C. Norepinephrine
,Rationale: Norepinephrine is recommended as the first-line vasopressor because it
effectively increases MAP with fewer arrhythmias compared with dopamine.
6. A nurse titrates norepinephrine for a septic patient. Which target MAP is
generally desired?
A. 40 mmHg
B. 50 mmHg
C. 65 mmHg or higher
D. 100 mmHg
Correct Answer: C. 65 mmHg or higher
Rationale: Maintaining MAP ≥65 mmHg supports adequate perfusion of vital
organs in most septic shock patients.
7. A patient receiving norepinephrine develops cool, mottled extremities. What
should the nurse suspect?
A. Improved perfusion
B. Excessive vasoconstriction
C. Fluid overload
D. Hypoglycemia
Correct Answer: B. Excessive vasoconstriction
Rationale: High-dose vasopressors may cause peripheral vasoconstriction,
reducing blood flow to extremities.
8. Which laboratory value is most useful for evaluating tissue hypoperfusion in
sepsis?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Serum lactate
, C. Platelet count
D. Sodium level
Correct Answer: B. Serum lactate
Rationale: Elevated lactate indicates impaired oxygen utilization and tissue
hypoperfusion.
9. A septic patient has lactate of 5 mmol/L. The nurse recognizes this finding as:
A. Normal metabolism
B. Possible tissue hypoxia
C. Adequate resuscitation
D. Kidney failure only
Correct Answer: B. Possible tissue hypoxia
Rationale: Elevated lactate suggests anaerobic metabolism caused by inadequate
oxygen delivery or utilization.
10. Which fluid is commonly recommended for initial sepsis resuscitation?
A. 5% dextrose
B. Normal saline or balanced crystalloids
C. Hypertonic saline
D. Albumin only
Correct Answer: B. Normal saline or balanced crystalloids
Rationale: Crystalloids are recommended first-line fluids for restoring circulating
volume in sepsis.
11. A septic patient remains hypotensive after receiving adequate fluids. Which
medication should the nurse anticipate?
