Question

The nurse receives an order to administer a colloidal solution for a patient experiencing hypovolemic shock. What common colloidal solution will the nurse most likely administer?

a) Blood products
b) 5% albumin
c) 6% dextran
d) 6% hetastarch

Answer 1

In cases of hypovolemic shock, 6% hetastarch is a commonly administered colloidal solution by nurses, as it helps maintain blood volume and pressure by staying in the vascular system longer than crystalloids.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of treating hypovolemic shock, where a patient has lost a significant amount of blood or fluids, a common colloidal solution that a nurse might administer is 6% hetastarch. Colloidal solutions are used in this scenario because they contain larger molecules that stay in the vascular system for an extended period, helping to maintain the blood volume and pressure necessary for proper organ function.

Unlike crystalloids that rapidly equilibrate with the extracellular fluid and have a short duration within the circulation, colloids such as hetastarch provide a more sustained plasma volume expansion essential for patients in shock.

It is essential to monitor the patient's vital signs and overall clinical response when administering hetastarch since overuse can lead to complications such as coagulopathy or fluid overload. Hetastarch is typically used when crystalloids alone are insufficient to achieve the desired hemodynamic stability and is part of a larger set of interventions to manage hypovolemic shock.