A nurse is providing postoperative care to a client who lost 800 mL of blood during surgery. The client’s blood pressure has been steadily decreasing over the past 2 hours.
Which of the following categories of shock should the nurse recognize is occurring?
Hypovolemic shock.
Septic shock.
Neurogenic shock.
Obstructive shock.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
Hypovolemic shock occurs due to a significant decrease in circulating blood volume, leading to inadequate tissue perfusion. Blood loss, such as the 800 mL lost during surgery, is a common cause of hypovolemic shock. The steadily decreasing blood pressure is consistent with this type of shock.
Choice B rationale
Septic shock results from a systemic inflammatory response to infection, leading to vasodilation and maldistribution of blood flow. There is no indication of infection in this scenario.
Choice C rationale
Neurogenic shock results from a loss of sympathetic tone, leading to vasodilation and relative hypovolemia. It is often associated with spinal cord or severe head injury, which is not indicated in this scenario.
Choice D rationale
Obstructive shock occurs when there is an obstruction to blood flow within the cardiovascular system, such as a pulmonary embolism or cardiac tamponade. There is no evidence of such an obstruction in this scenario.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The SA node sending an electrical signal greater than 100/min describes sinus tachycardia, not atrial fibrillation. In atrial fibrillation, the issue is not with the SA node but with the atria’s chaotic electrical activity.
Choice B rationale
An early electrical signal occurring before the expected SA node signal describes a premature atrial contraction (PAC), not atrial fibrillation. PACs are isolated events, whereas atrial fibrillation involves sustained irregular electrical activity.
Choice C rationale
Slow electrical transmission through the AV node describes a heart block, not atrial fibrillation. In atrial fibrillation, the problem is with the atria’s rapid and irregular electrical signals, not the AV node’s conduction speed.
Choice D rationale
Atrial fibrillation is characterized by rapid, chaotic, and irregular electrical signals in the atria. This leads to an irregular and often rapid heart rate, causing symptoms like dizziness and palpitations. .
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is characterized by a rapid heart rate originating above the ventricles, typically with a regular rhythm and identifiable P waves. The described ECG strip shows an irregular rhythm and an inability to identify P waves, which is not consistent with SVT5.
Choice B rationale
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by an irregularly irregular rhythm, absence of identifiable P waves, and variable PR intervals. The ECG findings of an irregular rhythm, inability to identify P waves, and a QRS duration of 0.10 seconds are consistent with AF6.
Choice C rationale
Sinus bradycardia is characterized by a regular rhythm with a heart rate less than 60 beats per minute and identifiable P waves preceding each QRS complex. The described ECG strip shows an irregular rhythm and an inability to identify P waves, which is not consistent with sinus bradycardia.
Choice D rationale
First-degree heart block is characterized by a prolonged PR interval with a regular rhythm. The described ECG strip shows an irregular rhythm and an inability to measure the PR interval, which is not consistent with first-degree heart block.