Nursing Care Plan (NCP) for Hypovolemic Shock
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Outline
Lesson Objective for Hypovolemic Shock
- Understanding of Hypovolemic Shock:
- Gain knowledge about the pathophysiology, causes, and risk factors of hypovolemic shock. Understand how a decrease in circulating blood volume leads to inadequate tissue perfusion.
- Recognition of Signs and Symptoms:
- Develop the ability to recognize the clinical manifestations of hypovolemic shock, including but not limited to tachycardia, hypotension, rapid breathing, cool and clammy skin, and altered mental status. This involves understanding the physiological response to decreased blood volume.
- Identification of Underlying Causes:
- Learn to identify and assess the underlying causes of hypovolemic shock, such as hemorrhage, severe dehydration, or fluid loss from trauma. Recognize the importance of a thorough patient history and physical examination in determining the cause.
- Emergency Interventions:
- Acquire skills in implementing emergency interventions to address hypovolemic shock. This includes initiating fluid resuscitation, administering blood products when necessary, and ensuring prompt and appropriate medical interventions to stabilize the patient’s condition.
- Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Develop proficiency in continuous monitoring of vital signs, urine output, central venous pressure, and laboratory values. Understand the importance of ongoing assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and make timely adjustments to the care plan.
Pathophysiology of Hypovolemic Shock
- Inadequate Circulating Blood Volume:
- Hypovolemic shock results from a significant decrease in the volume of circulating blood in the body. This can occur due to various factors, such as hemorrhage, severe dehydration, or fluid loss from burns.
- Decreased Preload and Stroke Volume:
- The reduction in blood volume leads to decreased preload, the amount of blood returning to the heart. As a consequence, stroke volume—the amount of blood ejected with each heartbeat—also decreases, compromising the cardiac output.
- Compensatory Mechanisms:
- The body activates compensatory mechanisms to maintain perfusion to vital organs. These mechanisms include increased heart rate (tachycardia) to enhance cardiac output and peripheral vasoconstriction to redirect blood flow to essential organs.
- Tissue Hypoperfusion:
- Despite compensatory efforts, the reduced blood volume results in inadequate perfusion of tissues and organs. This can lead to cellular hypoxia, affecting cellular metabolism and function.
- Activation of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS):
- The decrease in blood volume triggers the activation of the RAAS, leading to the release of renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone. These hormones aim to retain water and sodium, increase blood pressure, and stimulate vasoconstriction to restore blood volume.
Etiology of Hypovolemic Shock
- Hemorrhage:
- Severe bleeding, whether from trauma, surgery, or gastrointestinal bleeding, is a common cause of hypovolemic shock. Rapid loss of blood reduces the circulating volume, triggering shock.
- Dehydration:
- Inadequate fluid intake, excessive fluid loss through vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive sweating, and conditions like diabetes insipidus can lead to dehydration. Dehydration results in a decrease in blood volume, contributing to hypovolemic shock.
- Burns:
- Extensive burns, especially those involving a large surface area, can result in significant fluid loss due to increased permeability of damaged blood vessels. This fluid
Desired Outcome of Nursing Care for Hypovolemic Shock
- Restoration of Circulatory Volume:
- The primary goal is to restore and maintain an adequate circulating blood volume to ensure adequate perfusion to vital organs and tissues.
- Hemodynamic Stability:
- Achieve and maintain stable blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation within normal ranges to support organ perfusion.
- Resolution of Causative Factors:
- Identify and address the underlying cause of hypovolemic shock, such as controlling bleeding, rehydrating the patient, or addressing other contributing factors.
- Prevention of Complications:
- Minimize and prevent complications associated with hypovolemic shock, such as organ failure, coagulopathy, and electrolyte imbalances.
- Patient Education:
- Provide education to the patient and their caregivers on measures to prevent future occurrences, recognizing early signs of shock, and the importance of seeking prompt medical attention.
Hypovolemic Shock Nursing Care Plan
Subjective Data:
- Weakness
- Anxiety or restlessness
- Report of vomiting or diarrhea
- Report of rectal or vaginal bleeding
Objective Data:
- Measured fluid loss > 1500 mL
- Hemorrhage or Burn
- ↑ HR
- ↑ RR
- ↓ BP
- ↓ CVP
- ↓ CO
- ↑ SVR
- ↓ LOC
- ↓ Urine output
- Cool, pale, clammy skin
Nursing Assessment for Hypovolemic Shock
- Vital Signs:
- Monitor blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature frequently to assess the patient’s hemodynamic status.
- Skin Assessment:
- Evaluate skin color, temperature, and moisture for signs of poor perfusion, such as pallor, coolness, and clamminess.
- Capillary Refill:
- Assess capillary refill time, which can provide information about peripheral perfusion and circulatory status.
- Mental Status:
- Monitor the patient’s level of consciousness, orientation, and responsiveness to assess neurological perfusion.
- Urine Output:
- Measure urine output to evaluate renal perfusion and function, as decreased urine output may indicate inadequate organ perfusion.
- Respiratory Assessment:
- Monitor respiratory effort, auscultate lung sounds, and assess for signs of respiratory distress to evaluate oxygenation and ventilation.
- Fluid Balance:
- Assess fluid balance by monitoring input and output, including intravenous fluids, oral intake, and urine output.
- Laboratory Values:
- Obtain and monitor laboratory values such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, electrolytes, and coagulation studies to identify abnormalities and guide treatment.
Implementation for Hypovolemic Shock
- Fluid Resuscitation:
- Initiate rapid intravenous (IV) fluid administration with crystalloids (e.g., normal saline) to restore circulating volume and improve tissue perfusion.
- Blood Transfusion:
- Administer blood products (packed red blood cells) if significant blood loss has occurred to improve oxygen-carrying capacity.
- Vasoactive Medications:
- Consider the use of vasoactive medications (e.g., dopamine, norepinephrine) to support blood pressure and cardiac output in severe cases.
- Positioning:
- Elevate the lower extremities to promote venous return and reduce pooling of blood in the extremities.
- Monitoring:
- Continuously monitor vital signs, urine output, and laboratory values to assess the response to interventions and adjust the treatment plan accordingly.
Nursing Interventions and Rationales
- Assess for Risk
- bleeding risk
- burns
- GI/GU losses
Causes of shock include:
- Blood loss from:
- Traumatic injuries
- Internal bleeding, such as a GI bleed or surgical complication
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Fluid loss from:
- Burns
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
Nurses should assess their patients for the risk of developing hypovolemic shock. The patient may have lost some fluid already, or maybe they’re at risk for bleeding. Either way, the more aware the nurse is of the risk, the more likely it can be prevented or caught early.
- Assess and monitor VS and LOC
Patients may develop tachycardia and tachypnea in the early stages, then hypotension in later stages. It’s important to note these changes in the patient. Monitoring VS could help to prevent hypovolemic shock if caught early, but will also help to determine the patient’s response to treatment. The level of consciousness should be assessed because it may decrease as the patient loses the oxygenation of their brain. Decreasing LOC is a sign of advancing shock. Notify the provider for:
- ↓ blood pressure, not responding to fluids. If the blood pressure continues to drop, the patient will lose perfusion to vital organs.
- ↓ LOC – if the patient is more difficult to arouse or confused, this could be a sign of advancing shock. They may also begin to have difficulty protecting their own airway – the provider needs to be notified
- Monitor Hemodynamics
- MAP
- CVP
- CO
- SVR
Hemodynamic measurements will tell us the severity of the shock and how well the patient is responding to treatment.
- MAP = Mean Arterial Pressure – this is the average pressure within the arteries. It can be calculated with the non-invasive blood pressure but is more accurate when measured by an Arterial Line. Decompensated shock will show a decreasing MAP below 60 mmHg
- CVP = Central Venous Pressure. This measures Preload. In a patient with hypovolemic shock, it will be low (<4 mmHg). The goal would be to see this number, as well as the CO, increase with fluid resuscitation
- CO = Cardiac Output. As the patient’s preload decreases, so does their cardiac output. The body will attempt to compensate, so you may see a normal cardiac output for a while – then it will begin to drop as the body’s compensatory mechanisms fail. This is assessed using a FloTrac or PA catheter
- SVR = Systemic Vascular Resistance. This measures afterload. We will expect this to be high because of the body’s attempts to compensate through vasoconstriction. If fluid resuscitation is effective, we will see this number return back down to normal
- Prepare for procedures
- Arterial Line or Central Line Placement
- Gather all supplies
- Ensure consent is obtained by the provider
- Explain procedure to patient/family
- Prep fluids or tubing
- Ensure all monitoring equipment is available
- Intubation
- Notify Respiratory Therapist and Charge Nurse for support
- Suction and Ambu Bag at the bedside
- Gather supplies
- Ensure all monitoring equipment is available
- OR
- Follow facility procedures
- Remove all personal clothes, jewelry, etc.
- Ensure informed consent is obtained by the provider
- Facilitate transport
- Arterial Line or Central Line Placement
- Insert 2 Large Bore IV’s “Short and thick does the trick” How fast can 1 L be infused? 12g Cordis – 1:05 min 16g PIV – 2:20 min 18g PIV – 4:23 min 14g CVC – 5:20 min 20g PIV – 6:47 minPIV = Peripheral IV catheter CVC = Central Venous Catheter (Buck, 2015)
- RAPID IV Bolus Fluids
Fluids should be given as soon and as fast as possible to restore circulating blood volume.
- Crystalloid – to replace fluid loss from sources other than bleeding/hemorrhage
- Normal Saline
- Lactated Ringers
- Colloid to replace lost blood volume from hemorrhage
- Administer Blood Products
- Obtain Consent
- Send Type & Crossmatch
- Monitor per protocol
- Packed Red Blood Cells
- Fresh Frozen Plasma
- Massive Transfusion Protocol – used to prevent clotting problems when patients receive multiple units of blood.
Evaluation for Hypovolemic Shock
- Hemodynamic Stability:
- Assess for stabilization of hemodynamic parameters, including blood pressure, heart rate, and central venous pressure.
- Urine Output:
- Monitor urine output to ensure adequate renal perfusion and function. Improved urine output is indicative of better tissue perfusion.
- Laboratory Values:
- Evaluate laboratory values such as hemoglobin and hematocrit to assess for improvements in oxygen-carrying capacity and blood volume.
- Clinical Signs:
- Observe for resolution of clinical signs and symptoms of shock, including improved mentation, skin perfusion, and capillary refill time.
- Response to Interventions:
- Assess the patient’s response to implemented interventions, making adjustments as needed based on ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the patient’s condition.
References
- http://etmcourse.com/large-bore-iv-access-showdown/
- https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/760145-overview
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000167.htm
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Transcript
Today, we’re going to be talking about hypovolemic shock in its associated care plan. In this lesson, we will briefly take a look at the pathophysiology and etiology of hypovolemic shock. We’re also going to look at additional things like subjective and objective data that your patient may present with as well as nursing interventions and rationales.
Hypovolemic shock is the loss of blood volume, which leads to decreased oxygenation of vital organs. This loss of blood volume results in the body’s compensatory mechanisms failing and organs therefore shutting down. Hypovolemic shock can be caused by any condition that causes a loss of circulating blood volume or plasma volume, which includes things like hemorrhage, traumatic injuries, burns, and even prolonged vomiting or diarrhea. The desired outcome is to restore circulating blood volume, preserve hemodynamics, and prevent any damage to those vital organs.
So let’s take a look at some of the subjective and objective data that your patient with hypovolemic shock may present with now, remember subjective data are going to be the things that are based on your patient’s opinions or feelings. So, for hypovolemic shock, this could include weakness, anxiety, or restlessness, report of vomiting, diarrhea, rectal, or even vaginal bleeding.
Objective data might include a measured fluid loss that’s greater than 1500 milliliters, hemorrhage or burn, increased heart rate, respiratory rate, systemic vascular resistance, and also decreased blood pressure, CVP, level of consciousness, urine output, and cool/ clammy skin.
Let’s start to take a look at some of the specific nursing interventions for hypovolemic shock. It is definitely important to assess the risk of bleeding, burns, and GI and GU losses. This is because hypovolemic shock can be caused by blood loss from traumatic injuries, internal bleeding, like a GI bleed or a surgical complication, and postpartum hemorrhage or fluid loss from burns, diarrhea and vomiting. So, it is important for the nurse to identify these risks so they can be caught early. Assessing and monitoring vital signs as well as level of consciousness are critical because they can signify advancing shock. In the early stages of shock, the patient may be tachycardic or tachypneic, and then it advances to hypotension, so, decreased BP in the later stage. Monitoring vital signs could help to prevent hypovolemic shock if caught early, but also help to determine the patient’s response to treatment. So, level of consciousness should be assessed because it may decrease as the patient loses oxygenation to the brain. Decreasing LOC is a sign of advancing shock. Notify the provider if low blood pressure is not responding to fluids or if the patient is becoming harder to arouse. Monitoring hemodynamics is important to identify the severity of the shock and how well the patient is responding to treatment.
Measurements should include main arterial pressure or MAP, which is the average pressure within the arteries. A MAP that is decreasing below 60 millimeters of mercury shows de-compensating shock. Central venous pressure measures the preload, which will be less than four millimeters of mercury in a patient with hypovolemic shock. The goal is to see this number, as well as the cardiac output increase with treatment. Speaking of cardiac output, this value may be normal for a while until the body’s compensatory mechanisms begin to fail. Cardiac output value is assessed with a flow track or a PA catheter. So guys, systemic vascular resistance or SVR measures the afterload. We expect this to be high because of vasoconstriction, which is a compensatory mechanism. If fluid resuscitation is effective, we will see this value return to normal. With Hypoglycemic shock, we may need to prepare the patient for certain procedures like in arterial line or central line placement for invasive hemodynamic monitoring. Even for intubation, if there’s a decrease in consciousness in order to protect the patient’s airway, or a trip to the OR to repair internal bleeding. So, for line placement or preparation, be sure you have consent, be short as obtained by the provider and explain the procedure to the patient and family, and follow facility procedures. Also, be sure to gather any necessary supplies and prep lines and tubing, if necessary and remove patient belongings like clothes and jewelry, if they’re going to the OR. So, with hypovolemic shock, replacing fluids is super critical.
How do we do this? First, we insert two large bore IV’s. Here’s a way to remember this: “short and thick does the trick.” Shortening the catheters will provide your faster fluid administration, which is done with a pressure bag and rapid infuser. An infusion pump is only capable of infusing one liter an hour, so fluids should be given as soon as possible and as fast as possible to restore circulating blood volume. Crystalloids like normal saline and lactated ringers are used to replace fluid loss from sources other than bleeding or hemorrhage. Colloids are used to replace lost volume from hemorrhage with the administration of blood products like packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma for hemorrhage or trauma.
There are definitely things that we as nurses must know. First of all, consent must be obtained for blood administration. With the patient understanding possible reactions, send a type and crossmatch to determine the patient’s blood type. Before administration, the blood must be checked with another RN monitor using your facilities protocol. Usually, this would be every 15 minutes, times two, every 30 minutes times one in every hour after that. However, in hypovolemic shock, even blood products are given rapidly.
Here is a look at the completed hypovolemic shock care plan. Let’s do a quick review. Hypovolemic shock is the loss of blood volume leading to decreased oxygenation of organs. Causes include hemorrhage, traumatic injuries, burns, vomiting, and diarrhea. Subjective data includes weakness, anxiety, reports of vomiting, diarrhea, vaginal rectal bleeding. Objective data includes fluid volume loss of greater than 1500 mls, increased heart rate, respiratory rate, systemic vascular resistance, decrease BP, CVP, cardiac output level of consciousness, urine output, and cool pale clammy skin. Assess and monitor vital signs, level of consciousness, mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, SVR, and CVP to prevent worsening shock. To evaluate treatment effectiveness, prepare the patient for arterial and central line placement for intubation for the OR, and administer crystalloids, co-leads, and blood products with a large bore IV. Remember, short and thick does the trick.
Okay guys, that is it on this care plan lesson. We love you guys. Now, go out and be your best self today and as always, happy nursing!
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