A client is admitted to the surgical intensive care unit following the removal of a large portion of the intestines due to a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The client begins to display signs of septic shock and a sepsis protocol is initiated. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in the plan of care?
Maintain strict intake and output.
Assess warmth of extremities.
Keep head of bed raised 45 degrees.
Monitor blood glucose level.
The Correct Answer is A
Septic shock is a life-threatening condition characterized by a severe infection that leads to systemic inflammation, organ dysfunction, and low blood pressure. Maintaining strict intake and output monitoring is essential to assess the client's fluid balance and response to interventions. It allows the nurse to closely monitor the client's urine output, which is a crucial indicator of renal perfusion and overall organ function.
Monitoring urine output helps the nurse assess the adequacy of tissue perfusion and the client's response to fluid resuscitation. A decrease in urine output can be an early sign of worsening organ dysfunction and a need for further interventions.
While assessing the warmth of extremities is important for evaluating peripheral perfusion, maintaining strict intake and output monitoring takes priority as it provides more comprehensive information about the client's overall fluid status.
Raising the head of the bed 45 degrees (semi-Fowler's position) can help optimize respiratory function and reduce the risk of aspiration, but it is not the most important intervention in this case.
Monitoring blood glucose levels is important, as hyperglycemia can be associated with sepsis. However, in the context of septic shock, maintaining strict intake and output monitoring takes precedence as it directly assesses the client's fluid balance and response to interventions.
It's crucial to note that the management of septic shock requires a multidisciplinary approach, and other interventions, such as administering appropriate antibiotics, initiating fluid resuscitation, and addressing the underlying source of infection, should also be implemented in a timely manner.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Tertiary prevention programs focus on minimizing the impact of an existing disease or condition and preventing further complications or disability. In the context of cardiovascular disease, one of the goals of tertiary prevention is to provide prompt rehabilitation for clients who have incurred disease complications.
By ensuring that clients who experience complications promptly receive rehabilitation services, the program is effectively addressing the needs of these clients and providing appropriate interventions to minimize the long-term impact of the disease. This outcome indicates that the program is successful in providing the necessary care and support to clients with cardiovascular disease.
Client relapse rate of 30% in a 5-year community-wide anti-smoking campaign focuses on primary prevention rather than tertiary prevention.
At-risk clients receiving an increased number of routine health screenings may be an indicator of improved secondary prevention efforts, but it does not specifically measure the effectiveness of the tertiary prevention program for clients with cardiovascular disease.
Clients reporting new confidence in making healthy food choices is a positive outcome but does not directly reflect the effectiveness of the tertiary prevention program for cardiovascular disease.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A) Incorrect - Initiating continuous dopamine infusion is not a priority in this situation. The client's low blood pressure and electrolyte imbalances require more immediate attention.
B) Incorrect - Administering promethazine addresses symptoms like nausea and vomiting, but it doesn't address the primary issue of hypovolemia and low blood pressure.
C) Incorrect - Administering potassium chloride without addressing the fluid deficit can be dangerous and may lead to further electrolyte imbalances.
D) Correct- The client's vital signs and laboratory results indicate hypovolemia (low blood pressure, low sodium, and low potassium). The immediate priority is to address the fluid deficit and correct the electrolyte imbalances. Administering a bolus of 0.9% sodium chloride (normal saline) will help increase intravascular volume and improve blood pressure, as well as correct the electrolyte imbalances to some extent.
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