During the evening assessment of a febrile client admitted to the nursing unit with abdominal pain,the nurse assesses a lower than normal blood pressure and a rapid pulse.These findings suggest to the nurse that the client may be experiencing:

Question

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A lower than normal blood pressure and a rapid pulse are signs of hypovolemia, which can be caused by an abdominal infection. Anxiety could cause an increased heart rate, but would not necessarily cause a low blood pressure. A medication reaction could cause a variety of symptoms, but is less likely if the patient is febrile and has abdominal pain. Diurnal variation refers to normal fluctuations in a patient's vital signs throughout the day, and would not necessarily explain the specific abnormalities noted in this scenario.

During the Evening Assessment of a Febrile Client Admitted to the Nursing