Question

While assessing a patient in shock who has an arterial line in place, the nurse notes a drop in the systolic BP from 92 mm Hg to 76 mm Hg when the head of the patient's bed is elevated to 75 degrees. This finding indicates a need for

a. additional fluid replacement.
b. antibiotic administration.
c. infusion of a sympathomimetic drug.
d. administration of increased oxygen.

Answer 1

The drop in systolic blood pressure when the head of the bed is elevated to 75 degrees indicates a need for additional fluid replacement in a patient in shock.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse notes that the systolic blood pressure of the patient drops from 92 mm Hg to 76 mm Hg when the head of the bed is elevated to 75 degrees. This finding indicates a need for additional fluid replacement.

In circulatory shock, the body's circulatory system is unable to maintain adequate blood flow to supply oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. A drop in blood pressure can be a sign of hypovolemic shock, which is caused by the loss of too much blood or fluid. In this case, the drop in systolic blood pressure suggests that the patient may need more fluid to restore blood volume and improve blood flow.

Treatment for hypovolemic shock typically involves providing intravenous fluids to restore blood volume. Therefore, the correct answer is a. additional fluid replacement.