A nurse is monitoring a client who sustained a closed femur fracture and pelvic contusions following a motor vehicle collision. Serial assessments over a three-hour period reveal the following trends:
| Parameter | 14:00 | 15:00 | 16:00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure | 124/72 mm Hg | 118/78 mm Hg | 110/86 mm Hg |
| Heart Rate | 76 beats/min | 88 beats/min | 104 beats/min |
| Respiratory Rate | 14 breaths/min | 18 breaths/min | 24 breaths/min |
| Hourly Urine Output | 55 mL | 40 mL | 25 mL |
| Neurological Status | Alert and oriented | Alert, appropriately anxious | Restless and agitated |
Based on the physiological mechanisms underlying these assessment trends, which action should the nurse prioritize?
- Ensure the patency of large-bore intravenous access and verify the availability of crossmatched blood.Cevap
- BAnticipate a prescription for a continuous vasoactive infusion to prevent further decline in arterial pressure.
- CAdminister a prescribed anxiolytic medication to mitigate the client's increasing agitation and tachycardia.
- DElevate the head of the bed to a high-Fowler's position to maximize diaphragmatic excursion and oxygenation.
Cevap
Ensure the patency of large-bore intravenous access and verify the availability of crossmatched blood.
The client is exhibiting classic signs of the compensatory stage of hypovolemic (hemorrhagic) shock due to internal bleeding from the femur and pelvic fractures. The sympathetic nervous system responds to volume loss by inducing peripheral vasoconstriction, which raises the diastolic pressure and narrows the pulse pressure (from 52 mm Hg to 24 mm Hg). This vasoconstriction temporarily maintains the mean arterial pressure (MAP). However, the rising heart rate, increasing respiratory rate, dropping urine output (due to renal conservation of water), and new-onset restlessness (indicating mild cerebral hypoxia) confirm inadequate tissue perfusion. The priority action is to prepare for immediate intravascular volume expansion with crystalloids and blood products to prevent progression to decompensated, irreversible shock.
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Anahtar Kavram
Recognition of early (compensatory) hemorrhagic shock through subtle vital sign trends, specifically a narrowing pulse pressure, despite a seemingly normal mean arterial pressure.
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