Sepsis Sleuths
A patient with infection develops new confusion, tachycardia, tachypnea, and decreased urine output. What complication should the nurse suspect?
What is Sepsis
A patient loses a large amount of blood after trauma and develops tachycardia, hypotension, cool skin, and weak pulses. What type of shock?
What is hypovolemic
A patient with ARDS remains severely hypoxemic despite increasing supplemental oxygen. What hallmark problem does this represent?
What is Refractory hypoxemia
A septic patient’s lactate rises from 2.8 to 5.1 mmol/L. What does this trend suggest?
What is Worsening tissue hypoperfusion
A patient with an acute MI develops hypotension, JVD, pulmonary crackles, and cool clammy skin. What type of shock?
What is cardiogenic
A patient has a PaO₂ of 60 mm Hg on an FiO₂ of 0.80. What is the P/F ratio?
What is 75
After appropriate initial fluid resuscitation, a septic patient’s MAP remains 58 mm Hg. What medication should the nurse anticipate?
What is Vasopressor/Norepinephrine
After a cervical spinal cord injury, a patient develops hypotension, bradycardia, and warm dry skin. What type of shock?
What is neurogenic
Which ventilator setting helps keep alveoli open at the end of expiration?
What is PEEP
A patient with septic shock has a MAP of 68 but remains confused, oliguric, and mottled. What does this tell the nurse?
What is perfusion remains inadequate
A patient suddenly develops hypotension, JVD, tachycardia, and severe dyspnea with relatively clear lung sounds. What type of shock should be suspected?
What is obstructive
YA patient’s oxygenation improves after PEEP is increased, but BP falls significantly. What physiologic problem may have occurred?
What is decreased venous return/preload
DA patient’s lactate is decreasing and BP has improved, but urine output and mental status are worsening. What is the priority conclusion?
What is Sepsis is still causing organ dysfunction
In shock, urine output falls, mental status changes, and lactate rises. What underlying problem connects these findings?
What is inadequate tissue perfusion
A ventilated ARDS patient suddenly develops severe hypoxemia, hypotension, unilateral absent breath sounds, and sharply increased airway pressures. What complication should the nurse suspect?
What is Tension pneumothorax