Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

A patient at risk for sepsis presents with flushed skin and difficulty responding to stimuli. What should the nurse anticipate?

1. Antibiotics and crystalloid administration

2. Antipyretic and dopamine administration

3. CT scan of the head and a drug screen

4. Colloid followed by norepinephrine administration

The correct answer is: Antibiotics and crystalloid administration

In a patient presenting with flushed skin and difficulty responding to stimuli, indicating potential sepsis, the priority is to stabilize the patient's condition and address the underlying infection. Administering antibiotics is critical, as they are the standard initial treatment for sepsis, aiming to control the infection quickly and effectively. Alongside antibiotics, crystalloid fluids are essential for managing sepsis-related hypotension and ensuring adequate perfusion to vital organs. This combination directly addresses the life-threatening nature of sepsis and supports the body's response to infection, making it the most appropriate course of action in this scenario. While other options may include relevant interventions, they do not align with the immediate needs of a patient in potential septic shock. For instance, antipyretics may help reduce fever but do not treat the underlying infection. Dopamine is less commonly recommended in initial sepsis management compared to other agents and may not be appropriate as a first-line treatment. Similarly, imaging studies or drug screens may be important in certain clinical contexts but are not urgent assessments needed when sepsis is a clear concern. Therefore, the most anticipated and therapeutic response in this situation focuses on initiating antibiotics and providing fluid resuscitation with crystalloids.