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.

Answer and Explanation

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

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is ["B","C","D","E"]

Explanation

Choice A rationale: Misplacing car keys occasionally is a common occurrence and may not necessarily indicate Alzheimer's disease. It can happen to anyone, especially when distracted or in a hurry.

Choice B rationale: Difficulty performing familiar tasks, such as cooking a meal or driving to a familiar location, is an early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. It indicates changes in cognitive function.

Choice C rationale: Losing sense of time, such as not knowing the date, day of the week, or season, can be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease. It reflects impairments in temporal orientation.

Choice D rationale: Problems with performing basic calculations, such as managing finances or following a recipe, are early signs of Alzheimer's disease. It shows a decline in cognitive abilities related to numbers and problem-solving.

Choice E rationale: Becoming lost in a usually familiar environment, such as getting disoriented in one's own neighborhood, is a significant early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. It suggests spatial and memory impairments.

A. Obtain the client's tympanic temperature measurement. B. Review the client's current food and medication allergies. C. Ask if the client is experiencing any pain with urination. D. Encourage increasing the intake of high protein foods. E. Determine if the client has recently experienced a fall.

Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]

Explanation

The correct answer/s is Choice/s A, C, and E.

Choice A rationale: Obtaining the client’s tympanic temperature measurement is a crucial step. The client’s confusion and disorientation could be symptoms of an infection, such as a urinary tract infection or pneumonia. Infections in older adults can often present with atypical symptoms, including changes in mental status. Therefore, checking the client’s temperature can help identify if the client has a fever, which is a common sign of an infection.

Choice B rationale: While it’s always important to be aware of a client’s allergies, especially when administering medications, it doesn’t directly address the immediate concern of the client’s altered mental status. Therefore, it’s not the most appropriate action to take in response to the situation described.

Choice C rationale: Asking if the client is experiencing any pain with urination is relevant because urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in older adults and can cause confusion and other changes in mental status. Pain during urination is a common symptom of a UTI.

Choice D rationale: Encouraging the intake of high protein foods is generally a good recommendation for older adults to maintain their strength and energy levels. However, it’s not directly related to the client’s current symptoms of confusion and disorientation.

Choice E rationale: Determining if the client has recently experienced a fall is important. Falls in older adults can lead to injuries, such as a head injury, which can cause confusion and other changes in mental status. Additionally, some medications used to treat pain after a fall can also contribute to confusion.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

When providing community healthcare teaching regarding the early warning signs of Alzheimer's disease, which signs should the nurse advise family members to report (Select all that apply)?

Correct Answer is ["B","C","D","E"]

Explanation

An older client is taken to the clinic by the spouse, who appears extremely worried. The spouse reports to the nurse that the client started to not make any sense and asked to visit a brother who has been dead for many years. Which action(s) should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)

Correct Answer is ["A","C","E"]

Explanation

The nurse discovers that a male client has attempted suicide by slashing his wrists. Which action(s) should the nurse do first?

A client with a chlamydia infection receives a prescription for a single dose azithromycin 1 gram by mouth. The bottle is labeled "Azithromycin for Oral Suspension, USP 200 mg per 5 mL." How many mL should the nurse administer? (Enter numerical value only.)

A client develops urticaria on the trunk and neck shortly after a secondary infusion of piperacillin is initiated. In which, order should the nurse implement these interventions? (Arrange the actions in order of priority, with the highest priority first, and least priority last or at the bottom.)

While changing a client's postoperative dressing, the nurse observes purulent drainage at the wound. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should note which of the client's laboratory values?

The nurse is administering multiple prescribed vaccines to a toddler. Which strategy should the nurse prioritize to reduce the duration of pain?

An older client with Alzheimer's disease is confused and asking the nurse to call their mother who is deceased. Which nonpharmacological intervention should the nurse implement?