Which of the following vital signs would be most indicative of a patient who has entered the decompensated stage of shock?

Decompensated shock physiologically occurs as the precapillary sphincters that guard the peripheral capillary beds relax secondary to local blood chemistry changes due to shock. The opening of these sphincters allows blood to flow back into the stagnant capillary beds which decreases the available blood volume for core perfusion, and, results in a significant drop in systemic vascular resistance. Thus the clinical finding consistent with decompensated drop is a sudden decrease in blood pressure, tachypnea, and continued elevation of the heart rate.