After sustaining injuries in a motor vehicle accident, a patient experiences a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate and respiratory rate despite surgical intervention and fluid resuscitation. Which stage of general adaptation syndrome (GAS) does the nurse recognize the patient is most likely experiencing?

Question

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The patient's symptoms indicate that the body's adaptive mechanisms are overwhelmed, leading to the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS). This stage follows the initial alarm reaction and a period of resistance, where the body attempts to adapt to the stressor. If the stressor is too severe or persistent, and the body's adaptive mechanisms are depleted, the exhaustion stage ensues, characterized by a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate and respiratory rate, among other symptoms.

After Sustaining Injuries in a Motor Vehicle Accident, a Patient