An older patient who had knee replacement surgery 2 days ago can only tolerate being out of bed with physical therapy once a day. Which problem should the nurse identify as a priority for this patient?

The patient's vital signs indicate signs of septic shock, including low blood pressure (70/46 mm Hg), tachycardia (136 beats/min), and tachypnea (32 breaths/min). The patient also has a high temperature of 104°F, indicating a fever. These findings suggest a systemic response to an infection that is leading to inadequate tissue perfusion.The initial treatment for septic shock includes fluid resuscitation to improve blood pressure and tissue perfusion. A fluid bolus of 0.9% Sodium Chloride (normal saline) is commonly used to restore intravascular volume in septic shock. It helps to increase blood pressure, improve organ perfusion, and stabilize the patient's condition.

The other interventions, such as administering Pantoprazole (Protonix) for gastrointestinal protection, giving Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever control, or administering rapid-acting insulin per sliding scale for hyperglycemia, are important aspects of care but should be implemented after the initial fluid resuscitation. The priority at this moment is to address the patient's hypotension and inadequate tissue perfusion through the administration of fluid bolus.

A 3% saline solution is a hypertonic solution used to increase serum sodium levels in cases of severe hyponatremia. However, it can lead to fluid overload and pulmonary edema. The presence of crackles throughout both lung fields indicates the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, which is a serious adverse outcome.

The patient's radial pulse rate of 105 beats/min is within a normal range and does not directly indicate an adverse effect of the saline infusion.

The presence of sediment and blood in the patient's urine may be unrelated to the 3% saline infusion and could indicate other issues such as urinary tract infection or kidney injury.

An increase in blood pressure from 66/50 to 122/74 mmHg is an expected effect of a hypertonic solution like 3% saline, as it can cause an increase in intravascular volume. While the increase in blood pressure is significant, it does not represent an adverse outcome specific to the infusion itself.