Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) Practice Exam

In the case of hypovolemic shock, what is a key initial intervention?

1. Administering vasopressors

2. Providing oxygen therapy

3. Administering intravenous fluids

4. Performing immediate surgery

The correct answer is: Administering intravenous fluids

In the management of hypovolemic shock, a critical initial intervention is administering intravenous fluids. This is primarily because hypovolemic shock results from a significant loss of blood volume or fluid, which leads to decreased perfusion and oxygen delivery to vital organs. The primary goal of initial treatment is to restore effective circulating volume to improve perfusion. By administering intravenous fluids, the healthcare provider helps to rapidly replace the lost volume, which can stabilize the patient’s hemodynamics and improve tissue perfusion. This fluid resuscitation helps increase venous return to the heart, allowing for improved cardiac output and maintaining blood pressure. While other interventions such as providing oxygen therapy and administering vasopressors are important in the overall management of shock, they are not the first step in addressing the underlying problem of volume loss. Also, performing immediate surgery is typically reserved for cases where there is internal bleeding or specific injuries that require surgical intervention rather than being a first-line response for managing hypovolemic shock alone. Therefore, fluid resuscitation is the cornerstone of initial management in hypovolemic shock treatment.