A patient is responding poorly to interventions aimed at treating shock and appears to be transitioning to the irreversible stage of shock. What action should the intensive care nurse include during this phase of the patient's care?
A) Communicate clearly and frequently with the patient's family.
B) Taper down interventions slowly when the prognosis worsens.
C) Transfer the patient to a subacute unit when recovery appears unlikely.
D) Ask the patient's family how they would prefer treatment to proceed.
Ans: A
Feedback:
As it becomes obvious that the patient is unlikely to survive, the family must be informed about the prognosis and likely outcome. Opportunities should be provided, throughout the patient's care, for the family to see, touch, and talk to the patient. The onus should not be placed on the family to guide care, however. Interventions are not normally reduced gradually when they are deemed ineffective; instead, they are discontinued when they appear futile. The patient would not be transferred to a subacute unit.
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