A patient who has neurogenic shock is receiving a dobutamine infusion through a right forearm IV. Which assessment finding obtained by the nurse indicates a need for immediate action?

The patient's IV infusion site is cool and pale.

The patient's extremities are warm and dry.

The patient's urine output is 28 ml, over the past hour.

The patient's heart rate is 58 beats/min.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. In a patient receiving a dobutamine infusion, which is a vasopressor medication used to increase cardiac output, a cool and pale IV infusion site could indicate inadequate perfusion despite treatment. This finding requires immediate action to assess the patient's hemodynamic status and ensure adequate tissue perfusion.

B. Warm and dry extremities are typically indicative of adequate tissue perfusion. In neurogenic shock, vasodilation can lead to warm extremities due to decreased systemic vascular resistance. While this finding may be expected in neurogenic shock, it does not necessarily indicate a need for immediate action if other parameters are stable.

C. Decreased urine output can be indicative of inadequate renal perfusion and impaired kidney function. In a patient with neurogenic shock, maintaining adequate renal perfusion is crucial to prevent acute kidney injury. While decreased urine output warrants close monitoring and intervention, it may not require immediate action unless other signs of worsening perfusion are present.

D. A heart rate of 58 beats/min may be within the normal range for some patients, especially those who are receiving dobutamine, which can have a chronotropic effect. However, in the context of neurogenic shock, bradycardia may indicate a compensatory response to hypotension and decreased tissue perfusion. While bradycardia alone may not always require immediate action, it should prompt further assessment of the patient's hemodynamic status and response to treatment.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. The insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter can help in assessing hemodynamic parameters and distinguishing between these two conditions. It provides direct measurement of pulmonary artery pressures, which can be elevated in the case of heart failure.

B. A ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan is used to evaluate ventilation and perfusion in the lungs. While it can help identify areas of ventilation-perfusion mismatch, it may not be the most appropriate initial test for distinguishing between ARDS and pulmonary edema.

C. Drawing blood for arterial blood gases is also a critical step as it helps in assessing the severity of hypoxemia and respiratory failure.

D. A chest x-ray can show the presence of bilateral opacities, which are indicative of ARDS when cardiac failure or fluid overload is not the primary cause. However, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is often performed to seek evidence of cardiac dysfunction when cardiogenic pulmonary edema cannot be excluded by clinical evaluation, laboratory findings, or imaging.

A. Decreased brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). B. Elevated central venous pressure (CVP). C. Decreased specific gravity D. Increased pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP).

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

B. Right-sided heart failure leads to congestion of the systemic venous circulation, resulting in increased central venous pressure (CVP). Elevated CVP is a hallmark sign of right-sided heart failure and is often used clinically to assess right ventricular preload and volume status.

A. BNP is a hormone secreted by the heart in response to increased ventricular stretch and volume overload, and its levels are usually elevated in heart failure, including both left-sided and right-sided heart failure.

C. Specific gravity refers to the concentration of solutes in urine and is often used as a measure of urine concentration.

D. Pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) is a measure of left atrial pressure and left ventricular end- diastolic pressure. In right-sided heart failure, the primary hemodynamic abnormality is congestion of the systemic venous circulation, rather than elevated left-sided pressures.

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A patient who has neurogenic shock is receiving a dobutamine infusion through a right forearm IV. Which assessment finding obtained by the nurse indicates a need for immediate action?

Nursing Test Bank

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