A patient who is being transferred from the medical-surgical unit to the intensive care unit is in the progressive stage of shock

Question

The nurse caring for the patient is aware that shock affects many organ systems and that nursing management will focus on:
A) Reviewing the cause of shock and trying to limit the progression
B) Assessing and understanding shock and the significant changes in assessment data to guide the plan of care
C) Giving the prescribed treatment but shifting focus to providing family time, as the patient is unlikely to survive
D) Giving progressive care to the patient and family using critical pathways for shock therapy

Answer 1

Ans: B
Feedback: Nursing care of patients in the progressive stage of shock requires expertise in assessing and understanding shock and the significance of changes in assessment data. Early interventions are essential to the survival of patients in shock; thus, suspecting that a patient may be in shock and reporting subtle changes in assessment are imperative. Option A is incorrect; reviewing the cause of shock and trying to limit the progression is important, but it must be followed by a plan of care. Option C is incorrect; it is important during the progressive stage of shock to give the prescribed treatment since the patient still has a chance of survival. Providing family time is important, but patient survival is still the priority. Option D is incorrect; giving progressive care to the patient and family is not defined. Using critical pathways for shock therapy sounds good, but there is no information in the stem of the question that indicates we are using a critical pathway. Option D is designed to distract the unsure test-taker, which is a technique often used by test writers.