SHOCK BOX
A patient has hypotension, tachycardia, cool clammy skin, and signs of blood loss. What type of shock is this?
Hypovolemic shock.
In DKA, what intervention takes priority?
Isotonic fluid resuscitation.
A postoperative patient has new calf pain, warmth, swelling, tachycardia, and SOB. What condition is suspected?
Deep vein thrombosis (with risk for PE).
Clear nasal drainage that tests positive for glucose indicates what complication?
CSF leak from a basilar skull fracture.
What is the first-line drug for stable narrow-complex SVT?
Adenosine (rapid IV push).
A patient presents with sepsis, lactate 4.8, MAP 58. What is the FIRST priority intervention?
Rapid isotonic fluid resuscitation.
When insulin therapy begins in DKA, which electrolyte commonly drops as it shifts intracellularly?
Potassium.
Pink frothy sputum and severe respiratory distress indicate what emergency?
Flash pulmonary edema.
Hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations represent what triad?
Cushing’s triad (elevated ICP).
IV nitroglycerin must be titrated down or stopped immediately if what occurs?
Hypotension
A cervical spinal cord injury patient has hypotension, bradycardia, and warm dry skin. What type of shock is this?
Neurogenic shock.
A massive transfusion patient develops twitching and prolonged QT. Which electrolyte is dangerously low?
Calcium (hypocalcemia from citrate binding).
Refractory hypoxemia with bilateral “white-out” infiltrates on CXR is characteristic of what condition?
ARDS.
A T6 SCI patient with severe headache, flushing, and BP 198/112 is experiencing what emergency?
Autonomic dysreflexia.
Atropine is first-line medication for what symptomatic rhythm?
Symptomatic bradycardia.
A patient in septic shock requires increasing norepinephrine doses and has mottled skin. What does this indicate?
Worsening shock progressing toward MODS.
A patient in shock has low urine output and rising creatinine. What complication is developing?
Acute kidney injury.
Tracheal deviation and absent breath sounds on one side require what emergency intervention?
Needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax.
Unequal pupils and declining LOC during stroke evaluation indicate rising what?
Intracranial pressure.
Magnesium sulfate treats what lethal dysrhythmia caused by QT prolongation?
Torsades de pointes.
A burn patient 2 hours post-injury has HR 134, BP 86/54, and urine output 10 mL/hr. What adjustment is needed?
Increase IV fluid rate per Parkland formula.
Platelets 55,000, rising bilirubin, and prolonged PT/INR indicate failure of which organ system?
Hepatic failure (MODS).
A ventilated ARDS patient has rising CO₂ despite max settings. What should the nurse prepare for?
Prone positioning.
Decerebrate posturing signals impending what?
Brain herniation.
A patient on olanzapine (Zyprexa) with weight gain, thirst, and polyuria requires assessment of what lab?
Blood glucose (screen for metabolic syndrome/diabetes).