sepsis evolve | UPDATED Questions with 100% Verified
Answers
Cuyahoga Community College District • NURS 2000
Q1: Which physiological change is related to septic shock?
A: elevated WBC
Q2: Which problem places a patient at highest risk for sepsis? 1 Pernicious anemia 2 Pericarditis 3
Postkidney transplant 4 Patient owns an iguana
A: Postkidney transplant
The post kidney transplant patient will need to take lifelong immune suppressant therapy
and is at risk for infection from internal and external organisms. Pernicious anemia is
related to lack of vitamin B 12, not to bone marrow failure (aplastic anemia), which would
place the patient at risk for infection. Inflammation of the pericardial sac is an
inflammatory condition that does not pose a risk for septic shock. Although owning pets,
especially cats and reptiles, poses a risk for infection, the immunesuppressed kidney
transplant patient has a very high risk for infection, sepsis, and death.
Q3: Which drug is prescribed particularly in patients with septic shock? 1 Milrinone 2 Hydrocortisone 3
Sodium nitroprusside 4 Phenylephrine HCl
A: Hydrocortisone
Severe sepsis may result in adrenal insufficiency. Therefore, low doses of corticosteroids
are prescribed in the form of IV hydrocortisone during the treatment to prevent adrenal
insufficiency. In hypovolemic shock, adrenal insufficiency may not occur. Milrinone helps
in improving contractility, and its administration is not limited to septic shock. Sodium
nitroprusside improves myocardial perfusion and is not limited to septic shock.
Phenylephrine HCl helps in improving mean arterial pressure and therefore can be
prescribed in both septic and hypovolemic patients.
Q4: Which laboratory result is seen in late sepsis?
A: Decreased segmented neutrophil count
A decreased segmented neutrophil count is indicative of late sepsis. Serum lactate is
increased in late sepsis. Monocytosis is usually seen in diseases such as tuberculosis and
Rocky Mountain spotted fever. An increased platelet count does not indicate sepsis; late
in sepsis, platelets may decrease due to consumptive coagulopathy.
Q5: Which grampositive bacteria may cause sepsis and septic shock?
A: Staphylococcus aureus
, Q6: Which assessment data suggest that antibiotic therapy may be effective in the treatment of a patient with
sepsis?
A: Serum lactate level increases 3.3 to 4.2 mmol/L
Q7: The primary health care provider prescribed a plasma C reactive protein test for a patient. Which shock
does the nurse anticipate in this patient?
A: Septic shock
Q8: Which type of shock has no loss of blood volume from the body but has toxic metabolites, which results
in organ dysfunction? 1 Septic shock 2 Obstructive shock 3 Cardiogenic shock 4 Hypovolemic shock
A: Septic shock
Septic shock is a type of distributive shock in which there is no blood volume loss, but
low levels of oxygen are perfused to the body tissues because of infections. Obstructive
shock is caused by problems that impair the ability of the normal heart to pump
effectively. Although the heart remains healthy, the conditions outside the heart prevent
either adequate filling of the heart or adequate contraction of the healthy heart muscle.
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart muscle is unhealthy and pumping is impaired.
Hypovolemic shock occurs when there is too little circulating blood volume, decreasing
the mean arterial pressure (MAP) because of hemorrhage, which results in inadequate
total body perfusion and oxygenation.
Q9: Which is a risk factor for distributive shock? 1 Use of ginkgo biloba 2 Diminished thirst reflex 3
Diminished immune response 4 Presence of cardiomyopathies
A: Diminished immune response
The risk factor for distributive shock is diminished immunity response. Use of ginkgo
biloba can result in hypovolemic shock. Diminished thirst reflex is a risk factor for
hypovolemic shock. Presence of cardiomyopathies is a risk factor for cardiogenic shock.
Q10: Which medications are often used to provide adrenal support for the patient with severe sepsis? Select
all that apply.
A: Hydrocortisone
Fludrocortisone
During severe sepsis, the body's immune response can become selfdestructive if not
controlled. Drugs that provide adrenal support during severe sepsis are IV
hydrocortisone and oral fludrocortisone. IV penicillin, levofloxacin, and vancomycin are
antibiotics that help to kill the bacteria causing the sepsis.
Q11: What typical sign/symptom indicates the early stage of septic shock?
A: Tachypnea and tachycardia
Answers
Cuyahoga Community College District • NURS 2000
Q1: Which physiological change is related to septic shock?
A: elevated WBC
Q2: Which problem places a patient at highest risk for sepsis? 1 Pernicious anemia 2 Pericarditis 3
Postkidney transplant 4 Patient owns an iguana
A: Postkidney transplant
The post kidney transplant patient will need to take lifelong immune suppressant therapy
and is at risk for infection from internal and external organisms. Pernicious anemia is
related to lack of vitamin B 12, not to bone marrow failure (aplastic anemia), which would
place the patient at risk for infection. Inflammation of the pericardial sac is an
inflammatory condition that does not pose a risk for septic shock. Although owning pets,
especially cats and reptiles, poses a risk for infection, the immunesuppressed kidney
transplant patient has a very high risk for infection, sepsis, and death.
Q3: Which drug is prescribed particularly in patients with septic shock? 1 Milrinone 2 Hydrocortisone 3
Sodium nitroprusside 4 Phenylephrine HCl
A: Hydrocortisone
Severe sepsis may result in adrenal insufficiency. Therefore, low doses of corticosteroids
are prescribed in the form of IV hydrocortisone during the treatment to prevent adrenal
insufficiency. In hypovolemic shock, adrenal insufficiency may not occur. Milrinone helps
in improving contractility, and its administration is not limited to septic shock. Sodium
nitroprusside improves myocardial perfusion and is not limited to septic shock.
Phenylephrine HCl helps in improving mean arterial pressure and therefore can be
prescribed in both septic and hypovolemic patients.
Q4: Which laboratory result is seen in late sepsis?
A: Decreased segmented neutrophil count
A decreased segmented neutrophil count is indicative of late sepsis. Serum lactate is
increased in late sepsis. Monocytosis is usually seen in diseases such as tuberculosis and
Rocky Mountain spotted fever. An increased platelet count does not indicate sepsis; late
in sepsis, platelets may decrease due to consumptive coagulopathy.
Q5: Which grampositive bacteria may cause sepsis and septic shock?
A: Staphylococcus aureus
, Q6: Which assessment data suggest that antibiotic therapy may be effective in the treatment of a patient with
sepsis?
A: Serum lactate level increases 3.3 to 4.2 mmol/L
Q7: The primary health care provider prescribed a plasma C reactive protein test for a patient. Which shock
does the nurse anticipate in this patient?
A: Septic shock
Q8: Which type of shock has no loss of blood volume from the body but has toxic metabolites, which results
in organ dysfunction? 1 Septic shock 2 Obstructive shock 3 Cardiogenic shock 4 Hypovolemic shock
A: Septic shock
Septic shock is a type of distributive shock in which there is no blood volume loss, but
low levels of oxygen are perfused to the body tissues because of infections. Obstructive
shock is caused by problems that impair the ability of the normal heart to pump
effectively. Although the heart remains healthy, the conditions outside the heart prevent
either adequate filling of the heart or adequate contraction of the healthy heart muscle.
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart muscle is unhealthy and pumping is impaired.
Hypovolemic shock occurs when there is too little circulating blood volume, decreasing
the mean arterial pressure (MAP) because of hemorrhage, which results in inadequate
total body perfusion and oxygenation.
Q9: Which is a risk factor for distributive shock? 1 Use of ginkgo biloba 2 Diminished thirst reflex 3
Diminished immune response 4 Presence of cardiomyopathies
A: Diminished immune response
The risk factor for distributive shock is diminished immunity response. Use of ginkgo
biloba can result in hypovolemic shock. Diminished thirst reflex is a risk factor for
hypovolemic shock. Presence of cardiomyopathies is a risk factor for cardiogenic shock.
Q10: Which medications are often used to provide adrenal support for the patient with severe sepsis? Select
all that apply.
A: Hydrocortisone
Fludrocortisone
During severe sepsis, the body's immune response can become selfdestructive if not
controlled. Drugs that provide adrenal support during severe sepsis are IV
hydrocortisone and oral fludrocortisone. IV penicillin, levofloxacin, and vancomycin are
antibiotics that help to kill the bacteria causing the sepsis.
Q11: What typical sign/symptom indicates the early stage of septic shock?
A: Tachypnea and tachycardia
