The nurse is caring for a client who develops signs and symptoms of septic shock following a urinary tract infection one week ago.
The healthcare provider prescribes a sepsis protocol to be initiated.
Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in the plan of care?
Keep head of bed raised 45 degrees.
Maintain strict intake and output.
Monitor blood glucose level.
Assess warmth of extremities.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Keeping the head of the bed raised 45 degrees is a crucial intervention in septic shock. This position helps improve oxygenation and reduces the risk of aspiration. It promotes better lung function and can help maintain a higher mean arterial pressure, which is important in the management of sepsis.
Choice B rationale:
Maintaining strict intake and output is important for assessing fluid balance, but it is not the most critical intervention when a client is in septic shock. Hemodynamic stability and oxygenation take precedence in this situation.
Choice C rationale:
Monitoring blood glucose levels is an essential aspect of care, especially in critically ill patients. However, it is not the most important intervention in the immediate management of septic shock.
Choice D rationale:
Assessing the warmth of extremities is important for circulatory assessment, but it is not the most crucial intervention in septic shock. Hemodynamic support and maintaining oxygenation are higher priorities.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Tenderness is not considered a normal finding during percussion of the abdomen. Tenderness suggests an underlying issue or inflammation in the abdominal area, which requires further evaluation and investigation.
Choice B rationale:
Musical and drumlike sounds are considered normal findings during percussion of the abdomen. These sounds indicate the presence of air-filled structures like the stomach or intestines. Normal abdominal percussion sounds are tympanic, and they are characterized by a hollow, drum-like quality when the abdomen is tapped lightly. This finding suggests that there are no significant abnormalities in the abdominal area.
Choice C rationale:
Absent sounds during abdominal percussion are not considered normal and may indicate a potential problem. Absent sounds could be due to factors such as bowel obstruction or severe constipation, which require further assessment and intervention.
Choice D rationale:
Pain during abdominal percussion is not considered a normal finding. It indicates discomfort or tenderness in the abdominal area, which requires further evaluation to determine the underlying cause.
Correct Answer is ["A","D","E"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Correcting electrolytes that are out of normal range is a crucial goal of therapy for this client. In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), the body’s cells are unable to use glucose for energy due to a lack of insulin. This leads to the breakdown of fat for energy, producing ketones as a by-product. Ketones are acidic and can cause the blood’s pH to decrease, leading to metabolic acidosis. This process also leads to an increased production and excretion of electrolytes such as potassium and sodium. Therefore, correcting these electrolyte imbalances is a key goal of therapy.
Choice B rationale:
While promoting oxygenation to tissues is generally important in critical care, it is not a specific goal in the management of DKA. The primary issues in DKA are metabolic in nature, including hyperglycemia, ketosis, and acidosis.
Choice C rationale:
Preventing hyperventilation is not a specific goal in the management of DKA. Hyperventilation in DKA is a compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis (Kussmaul breathing). The body tries to expel more carbon dioxide to reduce the acidity of the blood.
Choice D rationale:
Reversing dehydration is another important goal of therapy for this client. In DKA, high blood glucose levels lead to osmotic diuresis, where water is drawn into the urine from the blood, leading to dehydration. This can cause hypotension and reduced tissue perfusion. Therefore, reversing dehydration through fluid replacement is a key part of treatment.
Choice E rationale:
Replacing insulin is a fundamental goal of therapy for this client. Insulin deficiency is the primary cause of DKA. Insulin allows glucose to enter cells where it can be used for energy, preventing the breakdown of fat for energy and the subsequent production of ketones.
Choice F rationale:
Providing respiratory support may be necessary in severe cases of DKA where the patient’s compensatory respiratory efforts are insufficient to maintain adequate gas exchange. However, it is not one of the primary goals of therapy in DKA management.
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