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Shock Recognition Flashcards

7 cards from real TNCC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Shock Recognition flashcards as text

  1. A patient with multiple rib fractures has distended neck veins, tracheal deviation to the right, absent breath sounds on the left, and BP of 70/40. The IMMEDIATE intervention is:

    Answer: Needle decompression at the 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line on the left

    Needle decompression at the 2nd ICS MCL on the affected side (left) is the immediate life-saving intervention for tension pneumothorax.

  2. Anaphylactic shock is classified as which type of shock?

    Answer: Distributive

    Anaphylactic shock is a form of distributive shock caused by massive vasodilation and increased capillary permeability from IgE-mediated histamine release.

  3. In hemorrhagic shock, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated primarily to:

    Answer: Promote sodium and water retention to restore intravascular volume

    RAAS activation causes aldosterone release, which promotes renal sodium and water retention to increase intravascular volume as a compensatory response.

  4. A trauma nurse notes that a patient in hemorrhagic shock has a base deficit of -8 mEq/L. This finding indicates:

    Answer: Metabolic acidosis from anaerobic metabolism

    A base deficit more negative than -6 indicates significant metabolic acidosis resulting from anaerobic metabolism due to tissue hypoperfusion.

  5. Which finding would MOST strongly suggest cardiac tamponade as the cause of shock in a penetrating chest trauma patient?

    Answer: Paradoxical pulse (pulsus paradoxus) greater than 10 mmHg

    Pulsus paradoxus greater than 10 mmHg — exaggerated drop in systolic BP during inspiration — is a hallmark of cardiac tamponade due to pericardial compression.

  6. A patient with Class II hemorrhagic shock (750–1500 mL blood loss) would MOST likely demonstrate:

    Answer: Tachycardia 100–120 bpm with normal or slightly decreased BP

    Class II shock presents with tachycardia (100–120 bpm), narrowed pulse pressure, and potentially normal systolic BP due to compensatory mechanisms.

  7. The TNCC primary survey identifies shock by assessing circulation. Which finding during circulation assessment MOST directly indicates shock?

    Answer: Peripheral pulses that are weak and thready

    Weak, thready peripheral pulses reflect decreased cardiac output and increased systemic vascular resistance, which are hallmarks of the shock state.