A 20-year-old college student has a pelvic fracture and a severed leg from a motorcycle accident. She lost several units of blood. When the student arrived in the emergency department, her blood pressure was very low, her pulse was high, and her skin was pale. The nurse knows that this patient has developed which of the following types of shock?



a) Distributive
b) Cardiogenic
c) Hypovolemic
d) Obstructive

Hypovolemic

Hypovolemic shock occurs when there has been extensive blood or body fluid loss. Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart loses its ability to pump sufficient blood to meet oxygenation needs of body tissues. Distributive shock is loss of blood vessel tone, resulting in expansion of the vascular compartment. Obstructive shock is an inability of the heart to fill or empty properly.