The nurse is assessing a patient diagnosed with obstructive shock due to a pulmonary embolism. Which of the following is the nurse most likely to assess in this patient?

Question

1. dyspnea and pleuritic pain
2. peripheral edema and split S2
3. headache and nausea
4. hypotension with orthostatic changes

Answer 1

1

Rationale: Clinical manifestations of pulmonary embolism include sudden dyspnea and pleuritic pain, and may lead to an obstructive shock state. Peripheral edema and split S2 are findings associated with right ventricular failure; headache and nausea are findings associated with carbon monoxide poisoning; and hypotension with orthostatic changes are findings associated with fluid loss, all of which may result in other types of shock states.