Lost and Found: The Patient with Mixed Shock

Session Summary

This session presents a dynamic case of mixed shock—hypovolemic, septic and cardiogenic—requiring rapid diagnostic reasoning and clinical flexibility. When classic categories blur, critical care nurses must synthesize evolving data, recognize subtle cues and pivot care in real time. Through focused cardiac ultrasound, lactate trends, blood gas analysis and fluid and vasopressor responsiveness testing, we explore how bedside tools and nursing judgment guide timely, life-saving interventions in complex hemodynamic states. Pharmacology content = 5%

Objectives

Distinguish between types of shock when clinical presentations overlap.
Choose bedside tools to support rapid diagnostic decision-making.
Apply evidence-based strategies to initiate, titrate and monitor pharmacologic therapies, i.e. norepinephrine, dobutamine, vasopressin, oxyradical scavengers and fluid resuscitation—in patients with complex or evolving mixed shock physiology.

Topics Pharmacology, Hemodynamics

Population Adult

Role APRN, Staff

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Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for 1.00 contact hours.

Disclosure

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.