A nurse is providing postoperative care to a client who lost 800 mL of blood during surgery. The client’s blood pressure has been steadily decreasing over the past 2 hours. Which of the following categories of shock should the nurse recognize is occurring?

Choice A reason: Obstructive shock results from physical blockages, like pulmonary embolism, impeding blood flow. The client’s blood loss and decreasing blood pressure point to volume depletion, not obstruction, making this choice incorrect for the scenario of significant surgical blood loss. Choice B reason: Septic shock is caused by systemic infection leading to vasodilation and hypotension. The client’s blood loss, not infection, is the cause of decreasing blood pressure, making septic shock irrelevant to this postoperative scenario, so this choice is incorrect. Choice C reason: Hypovolemic shock occurs from significant blood or fluid loss, reducing circulating volume and causing hypotension. An 800 mL blood loss during surgery directly leads to this condition, as the heart struggles to maintain perfusion, making this the correct choice. Choice D reason: Neurogenic shock results from spinal cord injury causing vasodilation due to loss of sympathetic tone. The client’s blood loss, not neurological injury, is the cause of hypotension, making this choice incorrect for the described postoperative condition.