Critical Care - 35725

The nurse in the emergency department (ED) is caring for a client with anaphylactic shock.

Which statement by the nurse indicates effective understanding of this condition?

Correct

A. "Initial management prioritizes administering life-saving interventions before removing or discontinuing the offending agent."

[48%]

B. "Symptoms may reappear after treatment."

[27%]

C. "Primary treatment is intravenous corticosteroids."

[14%]

D. "Cutaneous symptoms such as pruritus, generalized erythema usually appear last."

[10%]

Statistics

Difficulty level - Hard

27%of peers got it right

Time taken - 12 s

Subject/Lesson

• Subject

  Critical Care

• Lesson

  Critical Care Concepts

Client Need

• Test Plan

  Physiological Adaptation

• Related Topic

  Medical Emergencies

Item Type

• Item Type

  Application

Explanation

Choice B is correct. This statement reflects awareness of biphasic anaphylaxis, where symptoms can recur after initial resolution, sometimes hours later. Close monitoring is necessary even after apparent stabilization.

Choice A is incorrect. Removing the antigen or discontinuing the offending agent is an early priority in treating anaphylactic shock. This is critical before administering essential treatment.

Choice C is incorrect. Epinephrine is the first-line and most critical medication. IV corticosteroids are adjunctive and take hours to take effect; they are not the primary treatment for anaphylaxis.

Choice D is incorrect. Cutaneous signs like urticaria, pruritus, and flushing typically appear early and may be among the first signs of anaphylaxis. Delayed appearance would suggest atypical presentation or evolving systemic involvement.

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00:12:40

00:23:41

27.5 Shock

Additional Info

✓ Anaphylactic shock is a severe, life-threatening, systemic hypersensitivity reaction that results in vasodilation, increased capillary permeability, and airway compromise due to an IgE-mediated immune response.

✓ Symptoms typically occur within minutes to an hour of exposure.

Early signs:

• Skin: urticaria (hives), pruritus, flushing
• Respiratory: angioedema, stridor, wheezing, dyspnea
• Cardiovascular: hypotension, tachycardia, dizziness
• GI: nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping

Last Updated - 25 Aug 2025