SepSiS TeST BankS eXaM WiTH CORReCT aCTUaL QUeSTiOnS
anD CORReCTLY WeLL DeFineD anSWeRS LaTeST aLReaDY
GRaDeD a+ | | UpDaTeD VeRSiOn .
A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain and rebound
tenderness. Vital signs include temperature 102° F (38.3° C), pulse 120 beats/min, respirations 32
breaths/min, and blood pressure (BP) 82/54 mm Hg. Which prescribed intervention should the
nurse implement first?
a. Administer IV ketorolac 15 mg for pain relief.
b. Send a blood sample for a complete blood count (CBC).
c. Infuse a liter of lactated Ringer's solution over 30 minutes.
d. Send the patient for a (CT) scan. - CORReCT anSWeR-c. Infuse a liter of lactated Ringer's
solution over 30 minutes.
The priority for this patient is to treat the patient's hypovolemic shock with fluid infusion. The
other actions should be implemented after starting the fluid infusion.
Which patient should the nurse assess first after receiving change-of-shift report?
a. A 30-yr-old patient who has a distended abdomen and tachycardia
b. A 60-yr-old patient whose ileostomy has drained 800 mL over 8 hours
c. A 40-yr-old patient with ulcerative colitis who had six liquid stools in 4 hours
d. A 50-yr-old patient with familial adenomatous polyposis who has occult blood in
the stool - CORReCT anSWeR-a. A 30-yr-old patient who has a distended abdomen and tachycardia
The patient's abdominal distention and tachycardia suggest hypovolemic shock caused by
problems such as peritonitis or intestinal obstruction, which will require rapid intervention. The
other patients should be assessed as quickly as possible, but the data do not indicate any life-
threatening complications associated with their diagnoses.
Which finding for a patient who has just been admitted with acute pyelonephritis is most
important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?
a. Flank tenderness to palpation
, b. Blood pressure 90/48 mm Hg
c. Cloudy and foul-smelling urine
d. Temperature 100.1° F (57.8° C) - CORReCT anSWeR-b. Blood pressure 90/48 mm Hg
The low blood pressure indicates that urosepsis and septic shock may be occurring and should
be immediately reported. The other findings are typical of pyelonephritis.
A 78-kg patient in septic shock has a pulse rate of 120 beats/min with low central venous pressure
and pulmonary artery wedge pressure. After initial fluid volume resuscitation, the patient's urine
output has been 30 mL/hr for the past 3 hours. Which order by the health care provider should the
nurse question?
a. Administer furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
b. Increase normal saline infusion to 250 mL/hr.
c. Give hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) 100 mg IV.
d. Use norepinephrine to keep systolic BP above 90 mm Hg. - CORReCT anSWeR-a. Administer
furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
Furosemide will lower the filling pressures and renal perfusion further for the patient with septic
shock. Patients in septic shock need large amounts of fluid replacement. If the patient is still
hypotensive after initial volume resuscitation with minimally 30 mL/kg, vasopressors such as
norepinephrine may be added. IV corticosteroids may be considered for patients in septic shock
who cannot maintain an adequate BP with vasopressor therapy despite fluid resuscitation.
After a patient who has septic shock receives 2 L of normal saline intravenously, the central
venous pressure is 10 mm Hg and the blood pressure is 82/40 mm Hg. What medication should
the nurse anticipate?
a. Furosemide
b. Nitroglycerin
c. Norepinephrine
d. Sodium nitroprusside - CORReCT anSWeR-c. Norepinephrine
When fluid resuscitation is unsuccessful, vasopressor drugs are given to increase the systemic
vascular resistance (SVR) and blood pressure and improve tissue perfusion. Furosemide would
cause diuresis and further decrease the BP. Nitroglycerin would decrease the preload and further
drop cardiac output and BP. Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and would further decrease
SVR.
anD CORReCTLY WeLL DeFineD anSWeRS LaTeST aLReaDY
GRaDeD a+ | | UpDaTeD VeRSiOn .
A patient is admitted to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain and rebound
tenderness. Vital signs include temperature 102° F (38.3° C), pulse 120 beats/min, respirations 32
breaths/min, and blood pressure (BP) 82/54 mm Hg. Which prescribed intervention should the
nurse implement first?
a. Administer IV ketorolac 15 mg for pain relief.
b. Send a blood sample for a complete blood count (CBC).
c. Infuse a liter of lactated Ringer's solution over 30 minutes.
d. Send the patient for a (CT) scan. - CORReCT anSWeR-c. Infuse a liter of lactated Ringer's
solution over 30 minutes.
The priority for this patient is to treat the patient's hypovolemic shock with fluid infusion. The
other actions should be implemented after starting the fluid infusion.
Which patient should the nurse assess first after receiving change-of-shift report?
a. A 30-yr-old patient who has a distended abdomen and tachycardia
b. A 60-yr-old patient whose ileostomy has drained 800 mL over 8 hours
c. A 40-yr-old patient with ulcerative colitis who had six liquid stools in 4 hours
d. A 50-yr-old patient with familial adenomatous polyposis who has occult blood in
the stool - CORReCT anSWeR-a. A 30-yr-old patient who has a distended abdomen and tachycardia
The patient's abdominal distention and tachycardia suggest hypovolemic shock caused by
problems such as peritonitis or intestinal obstruction, which will require rapid intervention. The
other patients should be assessed as quickly as possible, but the data do not indicate any life-
threatening complications associated with their diagnoses.
Which finding for a patient who has just been admitted with acute pyelonephritis is most
important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?
a. Flank tenderness to palpation
, b. Blood pressure 90/48 mm Hg
c. Cloudy and foul-smelling urine
d. Temperature 100.1° F (57.8° C) - CORReCT anSWeR-b. Blood pressure 90/48 mm Hg
The low blood pressure indicates that urosepsis and septic shock may be occurring and should
be immediately reported. The other findings are typical of pyelonephritis.
A 78-kg patient in septic shock has a pulse rate of 120 beats/min with low central venous pressure
and pulmonary artery wedge pressure. After initial fluid volume resuscitation, the patient's urine
output has been 30 mL/hr for the past 3 hours. Which order by the health care provider should the
nurse question?
a. Administer furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
b. Increase normal saline infusion to 250 mL/hr.
c. Give hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef) 100 mg IV.
d. Use norepinephrine to keep systolic BP above 90 mm Hg. - CORReCT anSWeR-a. Administer
furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV.
Furosemide will lower the filling pressures and renal perfusion further for the patient with septic
shock. Patients in septic shock need large amounts of fluid replacement. If the patient is still
hypotensive after initial volume resuscitation with minimally 30 mL/kg, vasopressors such as
norepinephrine may be added. IV corticosteroids may be considered for patients in septic shock
who cannot maintain an adequate BP with vasopressor therapy despite fluid resuscitation.
After a patient who has septic shock receives 2 L of normal saline intravenously, the central
venous pressure is 10 mm Hg and the blood pressure is 82/40 mm Hg. What medication should
the nurse anticipate?
a. Furosemide
b. Nitroglycerin
c. Norepinephrine
d. Sodium nitroprusside - CORReCT anSWeR-c. Norepinephrine
When fluid resuscitation is unsuccessful, vasopressor drugs are given to increase the systemic
vascular resistance (SVR) and blood pressure and improve tissue perfusion. Furosemide would
cause diuresis and further decrease the BP. Nitroglycerin would decrease the preload and further
drop cardiac output and BP. Nitroprusside is an arterial vasodilator and would further decrease
SVR.
