Question

Mrs. Jordan's vital signs are as follows: temperature 101, heart rate 122/min, respirations 32/min and shallow, blood pressure 88/57 mm Hg, and oxygen saturation 85% on 6 liters of oxygen by nasal cannula. Based on her vital signs and other clinical manifestations, what clinical complication do you suspect that Mrs. Jordan is developing? What prescriptions should you expect to receive from the provider for Mrs. Jordan?

Answer 1

Mrs. Jordan's vital signs indicate she may be developing sepsis or severe pneumonia. Expected treatments include broad-spectrum antibiotics, fluids, vasopressors, and possibly mechanical ventilation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on Mrs. Jordan's vital signs: temperature of 101, heart rate 122/min, respirations 32/min and shallow, blood pressure 88/57 mm Hg, and oxygen saturation 85% on 6 liters of oxygen by nasal cannula; it is suspected that Mrs. Jordan is developing a clinical complication likely related to sepsis or severe pneumonia. These conditions can cause systemic inflammation leading to septic shock, characterized by low blood pressure, increased heart and respiratory rates, hypoxemia, and potential organ dysfunction.

For Mrs. Jordan, you should expect to receive prescriptions for broad-spectrum antibiotics to combat potential bacterial infection, fluids to address the hypotension, and possibly vasopressors if the hypotension does not respond to fluid resuscitation. In the case of hypoxemia that does not improve with increased oxygen delivery, mechanical ventilation may also be considered.