When administering norepinephrine (Levophed), the nurse monitors the patient for:

A) Cardiogenic shock:
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, often due to myocardial infarction (heart attack) or other conditions affecting the heart's function. The client's history of a recent infection does not align with the etiology of cardiogenic shock.

B) Neurogenic shock:
Neurogenic shock occurs due to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, typically as a result of spinal cord injury or severe brain injury. It is characterized by widespread vasodilation and bradycardia. The client's history of a recent infection does not align with the etiology of neurogenic shock.

C) Hypovolemic shock:
Hypovolemic shock occurs due to a significant loss of blood volume, such as from trauma, hemorrhage, or dehydration. While infection can lead to fluid loss and dehydration in some cases, the client's history of a recent infection suggests a different etiology, specifically septic shock, which is driven by the systemic inflammatory response to infection.

D) Septic shock.
Septic shock is a type of distributive shock caused by a systemic response to infection. It occurs when an infection triggers a widespread inflammatory response, leading to vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, fluid loss from the bloodstream, and impaired tissue perfusion. The client's history of a recent infection suggests that the shock may be septic in nature.

A. Hypotension: Norepinephrine is administered to treat hypotension, so monitoring for hypotension is not typically a concern while the patient is receiving this medication. In fact, hypotension is often the reason for administering norepinephrine in the first place.

B. Liver failure: Monitoring for signs of liver failure may be important in patients receiving certain medications, but it is not a specific consideration when administering norepinephrine. Norepinephrine primarily affects blood pressure regulation and does not typically have direct effects on liver function.

C. Bradycardia: While norepinephrine can increase blood pressure by constricting blood vessels, it may also cause reflex bradycardia (a decrease in heart rate) as a compensatory response. However, the primary concern with norepinephrine administration is hypertension, not bradycardia.

D. Hypertension
Norepinephrine (Levophed) is a vasopressor medication commonly used to treat hypotension and shock. It works by constricting blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. Therefore, when administering norepinephrine, the nurse should monitor the patient for hypertension, as the medication's intended effect is to raise blood pressure.