Final answer:
The presence of hypotension (C) in a client with acute chest trauma indicates that the client is possibly experiencing a tension pneumothorax. Hypotension occurs due to increased pressure within the thoracic cavity impacting cardiac output. Other typical findings may include tracheal deviation, tachycardia, and respiratory distress, but not bradycardia or a decreased respiratory rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
A tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency that may occur after acute chest trauma and is characterized by the accumulation of air under pressure in the pleural space. The nurse in the emergency department would recognize the client is possibly experiencing a tension pneumothorax by observing the presence of hypotension (C). This occurs because the pressure in the thoracic cavity increases to a point where it impedes venous return to the heart, thus reducing cardiac output and leading to a drop in blood pressure.
Some other clinical signs that may indicate a tension pneumothorax include tracheal deviation away from the affected side, severe shortness of breath, distended neck veins, and tachycardia. Therefore, finding such as bradycardia (A) would generally not be associated with this condition. Additionally, while hyperresonance on percussion (B) could be observed in a simple pneumothorax, it is the combination of symptoms and the critical nature of tension pneumothorax that guides the diagnosis. A decreased respiratory rate (D) is not typical for tension pneumothorax; typically, the patient would exhibit signs of respiratory distress including rapid, shallow breathing.