A patient has developed signs and symptoms of septic shock following a urinary tract infection one week ago.
The healthcare provider has prescribed a sepsis protocol to be initiated.
Which intervention should the nurse prioritize in the plan of care?

• A. Set up supplemental oxygen delivery- This could be necessary as the client is being weaned off the ventilator and may require additional oxygen support.
• C. Gather supplies for extubation- As the client is being weaned off the ventilator and the pressure support has been decreased to 0 cm H2O, extubation may be imminent.
• E. Offer the client ice chips- Once extubated, the client may have a dry mouth and throat from the intubation tube. Ice chips can help soothe the throat and keep the mouth moist.

• B. Increase the fraction of inspired oxygen- This action is not indicated based on the information provided. The client’s oxygen saturation is within normal range and there’s no indication that the client is experiencing difficulty breathing or hypoxia.
• D. Place a nasogastric tube- There’s no indication in the scenario that the client has a need for a nasogastric tube. This procedure is typically done for clients who have difficulty swallowing or need help with feeding, neither of which is mentioned in the scenario.
• F. Suggest a different ventilator mode to the provider- The client is already being successfully weaned off the ventilator, as indicated by the decreasing pressure support. There’s no indication in the scenario that a different ventilator mode is needed.
• G. Set the ventilator to give mandatory breaths- This action would be counterproductive to the weaning process. The client is already on a ventilator mode with no mandatory breaths and is being successfully weaned off the ventilator.

Choice A rationale

The patient vomiting at home for 3 days prior to surgery is crucial information that the PACU nurse should report. This could indicate a pre-existing condition or complication that needs to be addressed in the patient’s post-operative care plan.

Choice B rationale

While the patient refusing to take ice chips despite complaining of dry mouth is an important observation, it is not as critical as the patient’s pre-operative condition (vomiting for 3 days). The refusal of ice chips could be addressed through patient education and encouragement.

Choice C rationale

The presence of peripheral pulses and full range of motion in both legs is expected and normal in a post-operative patient, unless there were complications during surgery that could affect these observations. Therefore, this information, while important, is not as critical as the patient’s pre-operative condition.

Choice D rationale

The condition of the patient’s abdomen (soft, bowel sounds absent) and the absence of bleeding on the dressing are expected observations in a patient who has undergone an exploratory laparotomy. These observations, while important, do not provide additional critical information that the PACU nurse should report.