Question

The nurse suspect may be hemorrhaging internally. Which findings of an orthostatic test may indicate to the nurse of major bleed?

Answer 1

A significant drop in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and an increase in heart rate during an orthostatic test may indicate a major bleed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The findings of an orthostatic test that may indicate a major bleed to the nurse are a significant drop in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and an increase in heart rate when changing from lying down to standing up. Normally, when a person stands up, there is a slight decrease in SBP and a compensatory increase in heart rate to maintain blood flow to the brain. However, in the case of a major bleed, the drop in SBP would be more pronounced and the heart rate may not increase adequately, indicating a problem.