A patient is transported to the emergency room trauma unit by ambulance after a motor vehicle crash. The patient is exhibiting symptoms of shock. The nurse recognizes the symptoms of shock as which of the following? 

Explanation

•The condition of systemic shock from trauma often involves fluid volume depletion from blood loss. The decreased circulatory blood volume causes an increased heart rate (tachycardia) and decreased blood pressure (hypotension).

•The respiratory rate is usually increased to greater than 22 breaths per minute.

•Patients with shock usually have an altered mental status (AMS) due to decreased blood volume resulting in decreased oxygen to the brain.

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