A client arrives on the cardiac unit from the emergency room with a diagnosis of heart failure exacerbation. The nurse receives the client who is acutely short of breath with respiratory rate of 40, pulse oximetry 85%, blood pressure 150/90, and lower extremity swelling. What intervention or action should the nurse take first?

Choice A reason: Decreased cardiac output is a hallmark of cardiogenic shock, as the heart fails to pump adequately. This aligns with shock pathophysiology, making it a correct manifestation the nurse would expect when assessing a client for cardiogenic shock in a clinical setting.

Choice B reason: Increased pulse rate occurs in cardiogenic shock as the body compensates for low cardiac output. This aligns with cardiovascular assessment findings, making it a correct manifestation the nurse would identify in a client experiencing cardiogenic shock during evaluation.

Choice C reason: Postural hypotension is more typical of hypovolemic or orthostatic issues, not cardiogenic shock, which features weak pulses. Weak thready pulse is correct, making this incorrect, as it’s not a primary sign of cardiogenic shock in the nurse’s assessment.

Choice D reason: Bounding pulse suggests hyperdynamic circulation, not cardiogenic shock, where perfusion is poor. Weak thready pulse is typical, making this incorrect, as it does not reflect the compromised cardiac output expected in the nurse’s evaluation of cardiogenic shock.

Choice E reason: Weak thready pulse indicates poor perfusion in cardiogenic shock due to reduced cardiac output. This aligns with peripheral vascular assessment, making it a correct manifestation the nurse would expect when assessing a client in cardiogenic shock.

Choice F reason: Hypertension is not typical in cardiogenic shock, which often presents with hypotension due to pump failure. Pink frothy sputum is correct, making this incorrect, as it contradicts the hemodynamic profile in the nurse’s assessment of cardiogenic shock.

Choice G reason: Capillary refill greater than 3 seconds reflects poor perfusion in cardiogenic shock, consistent with low cardiac output. This aligns with peripheral assessment findings, making it a correct manifestation the nurse would note in a client with cardiogenic shock.

Choice H reason: Capillary refill less than 3 seconds suggests normal perfusion, not cardiogenic shock, where refill is delayed. Greater than 3 seconds is correct, making this incorrect, as it does not align with the poor perfusion in cardiogenic shock assessment.

Choice I reason: Pink frothy sputum indicates pulmonary edema, common in cardiogenic shock due to left heart failure. This aligns with respiratory assessment findings, making it a correct manifestation the nurse would expect in a client with cardiogenic shock.

Choice A reason: Starting IV fluids is the first action to correct hypotension (72/48) and tachycardia (152) in burn shock, restoring perfusion. This aligns with burn resuscitation protocols, making it the correct action to address the client’s critical hypovolemia and absent pedal pulses immediately.

Choice B reason: Albumin is used later in burn management, not first, as crystalloids like saline restore volume. IV fluids address hypovolemia, making this incorrect, as it’s premature compared to the nurse’s priority of initiating fluid resuscitation in the burn-injured client.

Choice C reason: Checking pulses with Doppler assesses perfusion but delays fluid resuscitation needed for hypotension and shock. IV fluids are urgent, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s first action of correcting hypovolemia in the burn client’s emergency care.

Choice D reason: Calculating the rule of nines guides fluid volume but is secondary to starting IV fluids for hypotension. Immediate resuscitation is critical, making this incorrect, as it delays the nurse’s priority of addressing the client’s shock state in the burn emergency.