MDC4 EXAM 2_NUR2755 _RASMUSSEN UNIVERSITY 200 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS FOR A GUARANTEED PASS
Contents
1. Shock Overview & Classification
2. Septic Shock & Sepsis
3. Hypovolemic & Hemorrhagic Shock
4. Cardiogenic & Obstructive Shock
5. Anaphylactic & Neurogenic Shock
6. Burns — Assessment & Classification
7. Burns — Fluid Resuscitation & the Parkland Formula
8. Burns — Phases of Care & Complications
9. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
10. Chest Trauma & Pneumothorax
11. DVT & Pulmonary Embolism
12. SIRS & Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS)
13. Hemodynamic Monitoring & MAP
14. Mechanical Ventilation
15. Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance in Critical Care
16. Vasopressors & Critical Care Medications
17. Multisystem Trauma Assessment
18. Environmental Emergencies (Frostbite, Drowning, Heat)
19. Neurological Critical Care (Guillain-Barré & Related Conditions)
20. Critical Care Nursing Priorities & Triage
,1. Shock Overview & Classification
Q1. What is the definition of shock?
A: A life-threatening condition of inadequate tissue perfusion, resulting in cellular hypoxia and organ
dysfunction.
Q2. What are the four major classifications of shock?
A: Hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive (septic, anaphylactic, neurogenic), and obstructive.
Q3. What are the three stages of shock?
A: Compensatory (early), progressive (decompensated), and irreversible (refractory).
Q4. What compensatory mechanisms occur in early shock?
A: Sympathetic nervous system activation causing tachycardia, vasoconstriction, and increased respiratory
rate.
Q5. What is the earliest sign of shock the nurse should recognize?
A: A change in mental status, such as restlessness or anxiety, due to cerebral hypoperfusion.
Q6. What finding indicates a patient has progressed to the progressive stage of shock?
A: Hypotension with a systolic BP less than 90 mmHg and worsening organ dysfunction.
Q7. What defines irreversible (refractory) shock?
A: Widespread cellular death and multiple organ failure despite treatment; often not survivable.
Q8. What is the priority nursing action across all types of shock?
A: Frequent reassessment of vital signs, level of consciousness, and urine output to monitor perfusion.
Q9. Why is urine output an important indicator in shock?
A: It reflects renal perfusion; output less than 30 mL/hr indicates inadequate perfusion.
Q10. What lab value indicates anaerobic metabolism from poor tissue perfusion in shock?
A: Elevated serum lactate.
, 2. Septic Shock & Sepsis
Q11. What is sepsis?
A: A life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.
Q12. What is septic shock?
A: Sepsis with persistent hypotension requiring vasopressors despite adequate fluid resuscitation, along
with elevated lactate.
Q13. When caring for a patient with septic shock, which assessment finding is most important to report to the
provider?
A: A drop in arterial oxygen saturation (e.g., 91%), indicating worsening perfusion/oxygenation.
Q14. What are early (warm/hyperdynamic) signs of septic shock?
A: Fever, flushed warm skin, tachycardia, and bounding pulses.
Q15. What are late (cold/hypodynamic) signs of septic shock?
A: Hypotension, cool mottled skin, and altered mental status.
Q16. What is the priority intervention bundle for suspected sepsis (Surviving Sepsis Campaign)?
A: Obtain blood cultures and lactate level, then begin broad-spectrum antibiotics and IV fluid resuscitation
within the first hour.
Q17. Why must blood cultures be drawn before starting antibiotics?
A: Antibiotics can alter culture results, making it harder to identify the causative organism.
Q18. What is the initial fluid resuscitation goal for septic shock per guidelines?
A: 30 mL/kg of IV crystalloid fluid within the first 3 hours.
Q19. What medication class is used if a septic shock patient remains hypotensive after fluid resuscitation?
A: Vasopressors, such as norepinephrine.
Q20. What lab value best reflects the severity of tissue hypoperfusion in sepsis?
A: Serum lactate level.
CORRECT ANSWERS FOR A GUARANTEED PASS
Contents
1. Shock Overview & Classification
2. Septic Shock & Sepsis
3. Hypovolemic & Hemorrhagic Shock
4. Cardiogenic & Obstructive Shock
5. Anaphylactic & Neurogenic Shock
6. Burns — Assessment & Classification
7. Burns — Fluid Resuscitation & the Parkland Formula
8. Burns — Phases of Care & Complications
9. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
10. Chest Trauma & Pneumothorax
11. DVT & Pulmonary Embolism
12. SIRS & Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS)
13. Hemodynamic Monitoring & MAP
14. Mechanical Ventilation
15. Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base Balance in Critical Care
16. Vasopressors & Critical Care Medications
17. Multisystem Trauma Assessment
18. Environmental Emergencies (Frostbite, Drowning, Heat)
19. Neurological Critical Care (Guillain-Barré & Related Conditions)
20. Critical Care Nursing Priorities & Triage
,1. Shock Overview & Classification
Q1. What is the definition of shock?
A: A life-threatening condition of inadequate tissue perfusion, resulting in cellular hypoxia and organ
dysfunction.
Q2. What are the four major classifications of shock?
A: Hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive (septic, anaphylactic, neurogenic), and obstructive.
Q3. What are the three stages of shock?
A: Compensatory (early), progressive (decompensated), and irreversible (refractory).
Q4. What compensatory mechanisms occur in early shock?
A: Sympathetic nervous system activation causing tachycardia, vasoconstriction, and increased respiratory
rate.
Q5. What is the earliest sign of shock the nurse should recognize?
A: A change in mental status, such as restlessness or anxiety, due to cerebral hypoperfusion.
Q6. What finding indicates a patient has progressed to the progressive stage of shock?
A: Hypotension with a systolic BP less than 90 mmHg and worsening organ dysfunction.
Q7. What defines irreversible (refractory) shock?
A: Widespread cellular death and multiple organ failure despite treatment; often not survivable.
Q8. What is the priority nursing action across all types of shock?
A: Frequent reassessment of vital signs, level of consciousness, and urine output to monitor perfusion.
Q9. Why is urine output an important indicator in shock?
A: It reflects renal perfusion; output less than 30 mL/hr indicates inadequate perfusion.
Q10. What lab value indicates anaerobic metabolism from poor tissue perfusion in shock?
A: Elevated serum lactate.
, 2. Septic Shock & Sepsis
Q11. What is sepsis?
A: A life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.
Q12. What is septic shock?
A: Sepsis with persistent hypotension requiring vasopressors despite adequate fluid resuscitation, along
with elevated lactate.
Q13. When caring for a patient with septic shock, which assessment finding is most important to report to the
provider?
A: A drop in arterial oxygen saturation (e.g., 91%), indicating worsening perfusion/oxygenation.
Q14. What are early (warm/hyperdynamic) signs of septic shock?
A: Fever, flushed warm skin, tachycardia, and bounding pulses.
Q15. What are late (cold/hypodynamic) signs of septic shock?
A: Hypotension, cool mottled skin, and altered mental status.
Q16. What is the priority intervention bundle for suspected sepsis (Surviving Sepsis Campaign)?
A: Obtain blood cultures and lactate level, then begin broad-spectrum antibiotics and IV fluid resuscitation
within the first hour.
Q17. Why must blood cultures be drawn before starting antibiotics?
A: Antibiotics can alter culture results, making it harder to identify the causative organism.
Q18. What is the initial fluid resuscitation goal for septic shock per guidelines?
A: 30 mL/kg of IV crystalloid fluid within the first 3 hours.
Q19. What medication class is used if a septic shock patient remains hypotensive after fluid resuscitation?
A: Vasopressors, such as norepinephrine.
Q20. What lab value best reflects the severity of tissue hypoperfusion in sepsis?
A: Serum lactate level.
