NIURSADN9 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | COMPLETE PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & REVIEW 2026/2027
*Shock:*
What is shock? - correct answer ✔✔A life-threatening medical condition whereby the body suffers from
insufficient blood flow throughout the body as a result of severe injury or illness
*Shock:*
What are the three *stages* of shock? - correct answer ✔✔Compensatory
Progressive
Irreversible
*Shock:*
A patient presents to the emergency room with increased HR, hypoactive bowel sounds, decreased urine
output, clammy skin, increased RR, and hyperglycemia. The nurse suspects shock. Based on the findings
which *stage* of shock might this patient be in?
A. Compensatory
B. Progressive
C. Irreversible - correct answer ✔✔A. Compensatory
*Rationale:* During this stage, the SNS causes vasoconstriction and increased HR/RR to *maintain
BP/CO*. The body will shunt blood from skin/kidneys/GI tract which then leads to clammy skin,
hypoactive bowel sounds and decreased UOP and inadequate tissue perfusion. Simultaneously the RR
will increase due to acidosis and may cause *compensatory respiratory alkalosis*.
*Shock:*
A patient presents to the emergency room with low BP, decreased UOP, weak yet rapid pulse, low pH
(acidosis), and hypoxia. The nurse suspects shock. Based on the findings which *stage* of shock might
this patient be in?
A. Compensatory
B. Progressive
C. Irreversible - correct answer ✔✔C. Irreversible
*Rationale:* During this stage, organ damage is so severe from hypoxic malperfusion that the patient
will not respond to treatment. BP will remain low while renal/liver function fails and anaerobic
metabolism worsens the already progressed acidosis.
*Shock:*
, A patient presents to the emergency room with decreased BP/MAP, deteriorating mental status,
hypoxemia, increased CO2 levels, pulmonary edema, altered liver function labs, and cardiac
dysrhythmia. The nurse suspects shock. Based on the findings which *stage* of shock might this patient
be in?
A. Compensatory
B. Progressive
C. Irreversible - correct answer ✔✔B. Progressive
*Rationale:* During this stage, mechanisms that regulate BP can no longer compensate causing the
BP/MAP to decline. Vasoconstriction continues to further compromise cellular perfusion and mental
status deteriorates from decreased cerebral perfusion/hypoxia. Conjointly, lungs begin to fail and the
decreased pulmonary blood flow worsens hypoxemia, increases CO2, collapses alveoli and leads to
pulmonary edema. Perfusion failure to the heart causes dysrhythmias and liver/GI/hematological
functions all become affected
*Shock:*
For *ALL* kinds of shock, early identification/treatment and identification/resolution of the underlying
cause are key to better outcomes. Though management/care will vary by patient, *all types and phases
include* what?
*Hint: Four things* - correct answer ✔✔Support of respiratory system, fluid replacement, vasoactive
meds and nutritional support
*Shock:*
Which *type* of shock results from decreased intravascular volume due to fluid loss via diuresis,
vomiting/diarrhea, blood loss, burns and/or diabetic ketoacidosis? - correct answer ✔✔Hypovolemic
*Shock:*
A patient is experiencing *hypovolemic shock* and is awaiting treatment. The nurse knows to place the
patient in *which position* to prevent further complication?
A. Reverse Trendelenburg
B. Flat
C. Low Fowlers
D. Modified Trendelenburg - correct answer ✔✔D. Modified Trendelenburg
*Rationale:* In this position, the client remains flat with his legs above the level of his heart. This
position helps prevent and treat hypovolemia and facilitates venous return.
*Shock:*
Which *type* of shock results from impairment or failure of the myocardium such as a pump failure
related to acute MI, hypoxemia, acidosis, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, tension pneumothorax,
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & REVIEW 2026/2027
*Shock:*
What is shock? - correct answer ✔✔A life-threatening medical condition whereby the body suffers from
insufficient blood flow throughout the body as a result of severe injury or illness
*Shock:*
What are the three *stages* of shock? - correct answer ✔✔Compensatory
Progressive
Irreversible
*Shock:*
A patient presents to the emergency room with increased HR, hypoactive bowel sounds, decreased urine
output, clammy skin, increased RR, and hyperglycemia. The nurse suspects shock. Based on the findings
which *stage* of shock might this patient be in?
A. Compensatory
B. Progressive
C. Irreversible - correct answer ✔✔A. Compensatory
*Rationale:* During this stage, the SNS causes vasoconstriction and increased HR/RR to *maintain
BP/CO*. The body will shunt blood from skin/kidneys/GI tract which then leads to clammy skin,
hypoactive bowel sounds and decreased UOP and inadequate tissue perfusion. Simultaneously the RR
will increase due to acidosis and may cause *compensatory respiratory alkalosis*.
*Shock:*
A patient presents to the emergency room with low BP, decreased UOP, weak yet rapid pulse, low pH
(acidosis), and hypoxia. The nurse suspects shock. Based on the findings which *stage* of shock might
this patient be in?
A. Compensatory
B. Progressive
C. Irreversible - correct answer ✔✔C. Irreversible
*Rationale:* During this stage, organ damage is so severe from hypoxic malperfusion that the patient
will not respond to treatment. BP will remain low while renal/liver function fails and anaerobic
metabolism worsens the already progressed acidosis.
*Shock:*
, A patient presents to the emergency room with decreased BP/MAP, deteriorating mental status,
hypoxemia, increased CO2 levels, pulmonary edema, altered liver function labs, and cardiac
dysrhythmia. The nurse suspects shock. Based on the findings which *stage* of shock might this patient
be in?
A. Compensatory
B. Progressive
C. Irreversible - correct answer ✔✔B. Progressive
*Rationale:* During this stage, mechanisms that regulate BP can no longer compensate causing the
BP/MAP to decline. Vasoconstriction continues to further compromise cellular perfusion and mental
status deteriorates from decreased cerebral perfusion/hypoxia. Conjointly, lungs begin to fail and the
decreased pulmonary blood flow worsens hypoxemia, increases CO2, collapses alveoli and leads to
pulmonary edema. Perfusion failure to the heart causes dysrhythmias and liver/GI/hematological
functions all become affected
*Shock:*
For *ALL* kinds of shock, early identification/treatment and identification/resolution of the underlying
cause are key to better outcomes. Though management/care will vary by patient, *all types and phases
include* what?
*Hint: Four things* - correct answer ✔✔Support of respiratory system, fluid replacement, vasoactive
meds and nutritional support
*Shock:*
Which *type* of shock results from decreased intravascular volume due to fluid loss via diuresis,
vomiting/diarrhea, blood loss, burns and/or diabetic ketoacidosis? - correct answer ✔✔Hypovolemic
*Shock:*
A patient is experiencing *hypovolemic shock* and is awaiting treatment. The nurse knows to place the
patient in *which position* to prevent further complication?
A. Reverse Trendelenburg
B. Flat
C. Low Fowlers
D. Modified Trendelenburg - correct answer ✔✔D. Modified Trendelenburg
*Rationale:* In this position, the client remains flat with his legs above the level of his heart. This
position helps prevent and treat hypovolemia and facilitates venous return.
*Shock:*
Which *type* of shock results from impairment or failure of the myocardium such as a pump failure
related to acute MI, hypoxemia, acidosis, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, tension pneumothorax,
