Question

The nurse is evaluating a client in the intensive care unit to identify improvement in the client's condition. Which outcome does the nurse note as the result of inadequate compensatory mechanisms?

a) Unsteady gait
b) Liver dysfunction
c) Organ damage
d) Weight loss

Answer 1

Signs of organ damage are indicative of inadequate compensatory mechanisms in an intensive care patient, as these mechanisms are crucial for maintaining homeostasis and preventing damage. This would be observed in cases like kidney or circulatory system failures that lead to severe health issues.

Step-by-step explanation:

When evaluating whether a client's condition has shown improvement or degradation due to inadequate compensatory mechanisms in an intensive care setting, a nurse would note signs of organ damage as the result of such failure.

This is because healthy compensatory mechanisms work to maintain homeostasis and prevent organ damage. However, if compensatory responses are inadequate, as in the failure of the kidneys, the individual may suffer severe consequences such as metabolic acidosis, heart arrhythmias, or widespread edema.

Additionally, complications like circulatory shock can lead to dramatic drops in urine output and consciousness loss, signaling severe systemic issue. While other outcomes like unsteady gait, liver dysfunction, and weight loss may be concerning, they are not typically direct results of inadequate compensatory mechanisms but can be associated with the broader context of the client's health.