Question

An 80-year-old patient is in shock from loss of blood following an accident. His vital signs are: BP 80/50 (normal ~ 120/80), HR 120 (norm = 60-100), RR 20 (norm = 12 to 20), T 98.6 (norm ~ 98.6).

In assessing this patient, the nurse understands that the abnormal HR is
a. probably the etiology for the patient's low BP.
b. due to the patient's heart compensating for low blood volume by pumping faster.
c. the normal compensatory response of shunting blood volume to the periphery.
d. due to multiple risk factors.

Answer 1

In the case of an 80-year-old patient experiencing shock after losing blood, the increased HR is a compensatory response due to the heart pumping faster to maintain blood circulation, which is characteristic of hypovolemic shock.

Step-by-step explanation:

An 80-year-old patient in shock from loss of blood following an accident is experiencing an increased heart rate (HR) as a compensatory mechanism. The patient's abnormal HR, which is tachycardic at 120 beats per minute (bpm), compared to the normal range of 60-100 bpm, is not the etiology for the low blood pressure (BP). Instead, it is due to the heart compensating for low blood volume by pumping faster in an attempt to maintain adequate circulation and oxygenation of tissues.

This response is part of the body's attempt to manage the effects of hypovolemic shock, which is often characterized by a rapid, almost tachycardic HR and a low BP, as well as other symptoms like thirst and confusion.