A nurse is measuring the vital signs of a client he suspects has hypovolemic shock. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A. High BP and high pulse rate is incorrect because hypovolemic shock results from a significant loss of blood or fluids, which decreases circulating blood volume. This leads to hypotension (low blood pressure), not high blood pressure. B. Low BP and high pulse rate is correct because in hypovolemic shock, decreased circulating volume causes a drop in blood pressure. The body compensates by increasing the heart rate (tachycardia) to maintain cardiac output and perfusion to vital organs. This combination of hypotension and tachycardia is a classic early sign of shock. C. High BP and low pulse rate is incorrect because low blood volume does not typically increase blood pressure, and bradycardia (low pulse rate) is not an expected compensatory response in early hypovolemic shock. D. Low BP and low pulse rate is incorrect because although hypotension occurs in hypovolemic shock, the heart usually responds with tachycardia, not bradycardia. A low heart rate with low blood pressure may indicate late or decompensated shock or a cardiac cause rather than typical hypovolemic shock.