The nurse is caring for an 18-year-old athlete with a possible cervical spine (C5) injury following a diving accident. The nurse assesses a blood pressure of 70/50 mm Hg, heart rate 45 beats/min, and respirations 26 breaths/min
The patient's skin is warm and flushed. What is the best interpretation of these findings by the nurse? a. The patient is developing neurogenic shock.
b. The patient is experiencing an allergic reaction.
c. The patient most likely has an elevated temperature.
d. The vital signs are normal for this patient.
A
The most profound feature of neurogenic shock is bradycardia with hypotension from the decreased sympathetic activity. There is no evidence to support an allergic reaction in this scenario. Hypothermia, not an elevated temperature, can develop from uncontrolled heat loss associated with vasodilation in neurogenic shock. Vital signs are not normal given the clinical situation.
You might also like to view...
After teaching a group of students about Simmonds' disease, the instructor determines that additional instruction is necessary when the students identify which hormone as being involved?
A) Growth hormone B) Luteinizing hormone C) Adrenocorticotropic hormone D) Oxytocin
The patient comes to the emergency department with a head injury, broken ribs, and internal bleeding. Opioid analgesics are contraindicated. What does the nurse recognize as the primary rationale for this?
1. The use of opioid analgesics will depress the patient's blood pressure. 2. The patient may not be able to communicate his level of pain. 3. Opioids will not effectively relieve pain in the patient's periphery. 4. Opioids can mask changes in the patient's level of consciousness.
Which of the following causes condylomata acuminata or genital warts?
a. Chlamydia b. Adenovirus c. Human papillomavirus (HPV) d. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)
How does an ANOVA differ from a t test of independent samples?
1. An ANOVA allows the comparison of mean scores between and among two or more groups. This test notes that a difference is found, if there is one, but not where the difference lies. 2. An ANOVA is a much higher level test and has no comparison to a t test. 3. An ANOVA compares the means of two or more groups on the dependent measure, but an independent t test compares pre- and posttest scores. 4. An ANOVA gives the reader information about the population of interest but not about the sample in a particular study.