Question

Which client is most likely susceptible to the effects of disturbed sensory perception?

a. A client who is receiving care in the ICU for the treatment of septic shock
b. An older adult client whose lung disease is being treated in the acute care for elders (ACE) unit of the hospital
c. A client who has just been admitted to the ED with reports of chest pain
d. A client who is having cataract surgery in an outpatient eye clinic

Answer 1

The client in the ICU for septic shock treatment (option a) is most likely to be susceptible to disturbed sensory perception, due to the severity of the condition and the heightened risk factors present in a critical care setting.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client most likely susceptible to the effects of disturbed sensory perception is a client who is receiving care in the ICU for the treatment of septic shock. Patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) often experience sensory overload or sensory deprivation due to the conditions of the environment and the severe nature of their illnesses. This is particularly true in cases involving septic shock, which is a systemic response to infection leading to dangerously low blood pressure and abnormalities in cellular metabolism.


The critical state of health, combined with the hospital setting, such as surgery and intensive care, might lead to a state where sensory perception is impaired due to several factors such as prolonged critical illness, use of medications that can alter mental status, and the stress associated with serious health conditions.

Other patients listed, such as those undergoing cataract surgery or treatment for lung disease, may experience temporary or condition-specific sensory disturbances, but these are generally not as severe as the disturbances seen in patients with systemic, critical illnesses. By comparison, the setting of the ICU and the severity of septic shock make the ICU patient the most vulnerable to disturbed sensory perception.