Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC) Practice Test

Elevated heart rate is indeed a classic sign of shock in pediatric patients. In the context of shock, the body attempts to compensate for decreased perfusion and oxygenation by increasing heart rate, leading to tachycardia. This compensatory mechanism helps maintain blood flow to vital organs when there is a drop in blood volume or blood pressure due to various causes such as dehydration, hemorrhage, or sepsis.

In pediatric patients, it is particularly important to monitor heart rate closely, as children often exhibit an increased heart rate in response to early signs of shock. This is a crucial indicator that healthcare providers use to assess the child's hemodynamic status and to determine the need for immediate interventions.

The other options do not indicate shock. Stable blood pressure may not be a reliable indicator in children experiencing shock, as their blood pressure can remain normal until they are significantly hypovolemic. Increased appetite and normal energy level would suggest that the child is likely well-perfused and not in shock. Thus, elevated heart rate stands out as the key classic sign of shock in pediatric patients.