An adolescent who is brought to the emergency department (ED) with a fever and persistent lower right quadrant abdominal pain is anxious, fearful, and hyperventilating.
The nurse anticipates the client developing which acid-base imbalance?

Choice A rationale:

The client’s presentation of a noticeable facial droop and garbled speech are classic symptoms of a stroke. These symptoms indicate that the brain is not receiving enough oxygen, which can lead to permanent damage if not treated immediately. Therefore, this client requires immediate health interventions.

Choice B rationale:

This choice is identical to Choice A. The client’s noticeable facial droop and garbled speech are indicative of a stroke and require immediate attention.

Choice C rationale:

This choice is also identical to Choices A and B. The client’s symptoms are indicative of a stroke, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention.

Choice D rationale:

While the change in the client’s speech after having a few drinks at a restaurant could be due to alcohol consumption, it could also be a symptom of a stroke, especially when combined with the facial droop. However, this choice does not directly indicate the need for immediate health interventions as it lacks the specificity of the symptoms compared to Choices A, B, and C.

Choice E rationale:

The time of arrival and mode of transportation do not directly indicate the need for immediate health interventions. However, the mention of facial drooping and garbled speech upon arrival at the emergency department reinforces the urgency of the situation, as these are classic symptoms of a stroke. In conclusion, Choices A, B, C, and E all highlight data that indicate the client is in need of immediate health interventions due to potential stroke symptoms. It’s important to note that strokes require immediate medical attention to minimize brain damage and potential complications. Normal ranges for lab parameters would not apply in this scenario as it’s based on clinical observations rather than laboratory findings.

The correct answer is d. hypovolemic.

Choice A reason: This is not a good choice. Septic shock is a type of distributive shock that occurs when an infection causes a systemic inflammatory response that leads to vasodilation, hypotension, and organ dysfunction. Septic shock is not the most common type of shock in children, although it can be a serious and life-threatening condition.

Choice B reason: This is not a good choice. Anaphylactic shock is a type of distributive shock that occurs when an allergic reaction causes a severe and rapid hypersensitivity response that leads to bronchoconstriction, angioedema, and hypotension. Anaphylactic shock is not the most common type of shock in children, although it can be a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Choice C reason: This is not a good choice. Distributive shock is a broad category of shock that occurs when there is a loss of vascular tone and blood volume distribution that leads to hypoperfusion and tissue hypoxia. Distributive shock can be caused by various factors, such as sepsis, anaphylaxis, neurogenic injury, or adrenal insufficiency. Distributive shock is not the most common type of shock in children, although it can be a complex and challenging condition to manage.

Choice D reason: This is the correct choice. Hypovolemic shock is the most common type of shock in children. Hypovolemic shock occurs when there is a loss of blood or fluid volume that leads to decreased preload, cardiac output, and blood pressure. Hypovolemic shock can be caused by various factors, such as hemorrhage, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, or burns. Hypovolemic shock can be a life-threatening condition that requires prompt fluid resuscitation and correction of the underlying cause.