MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

What vital sign is typically increased in the early stages of shock?

1. Decreased heart rate

2. Increased heart rate

3. Stable blood pressure

4. Normal respiratory rate

The correct answer is: Increased heart rate

In the early stages of shock, the body responds to a decrease in perfusion by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which works to maintain blood flow to vital organs. One of the key physiological responses to shock is the increase in heart rate, also known as tachycardia. This increase serves to pump more blood, and therefore oxygen, throughout the body in an attempt to compensate for the compromised blood flow. In shock, as oxygen delivery becomes inadequate, the heart rate rises in an effort to maintain cardiac output. This compensatory mechanism is crucial in the early stages, as the body tries to maintain homeostasis while facing a stressful situation. If the heart rate does not increase, it could indicate a more severe stage of shock or other complications. The other options reflect responses that do not typically characterize the early symptoms of shock. A decreased heart rate would imply a state contrary to physiological compensation typically seen in shock. Stable blood pressure and a normal respiratory rate may also not accurately represent the early changes in vital signs as blood pressure can show early compensatory changes, and the respiratory rate often increases due to the body's effort to oxygenate the blood as metabolic demands rise. Thus, an increased heart rate is indeed the vital sign most commonly observed in the initial phases