EAQ Acid/Base Balance

A nurse is caring for an infant whose vomiting is intractable. Which complication is most likely to occur?

Alkalosis

A client is in a state of uncompensated acidosis. What approximate arterial blood pH does the nurse expect the client to have?

7.2

A nitrazine test strip that turns deep blue indicates that the fluid being tested has what pH?

7.5

Which pH value of the blood is usually fatal?

7.91

What clinical finding indicates to the nurse that a client may have hypokalemia?

Abdominal Distention

A nurse is caring for a client admitted to the hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis. Which clinical findings related to this event should the nurse document in the client's clinical record? Select all that apply.

Acetone Breath Decreased arterial carbon dioxide level

After cataract surgery, a client reports feeling nauseated. How can the nurse help relieve the nausea?

Administer the prescribed antiemetic drug.

The laboratory data of four clients are shown below. Which client may have metabolic acidosis?

Client C

The nurse suspects fluid volume deficiency in a client who complains of weight loss and skin dryness. Which other finding might confirm the nurse's suspicion?

Darkened Urine

A client is admitted to the hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis. The nurse concludes that the client's elevated ketone level is caused by incomplete oxidation of which nutrient?

Fats

During the first 48 hours after a thermal injury, what should the nurse assess the client for?

Hyperkalemia and hyponatremia

A nurse in the clinic is taking the health history of a 16-year-old girl. When the nurse asks questions concerning sexual activity, the adolescent begins to perspire and hyperventilate. As her anxiety increases, she indicates that she feels dizzy and short of breath and that her heart is racing. What condition does the nurse identify?

Hyperventilation Syndrome

A nurse is caring for a toddler with severe dehydration and its associated acid-base imbalance. What compensatory mechanism within the body is activated to counteract the effects of the child's acid-base imbalance?

Increased respiratory rate

Which fluid has an alkaline pH level?

Milk of Magnesia

Which drug may be used both for cervical ripening during labor and as a stomach protectant?

Misoprostol

A client on diuretic therapy developed metabolic alkalosis. What does the nurse consider to be the priority nursing care while correcting alkalosis?

Preventing Falls

A nurse is admitting a 2-year-old toddler who ingested half of a bottle of aspirin tablets to the emergency department. What is the origin of the metabolic acidosis caused by aspirin toxicity?

Rapid absorption of salicylate

A client is diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which insulin should the nurse expect the health care provider to prescribe?

Regular Insulin

A client with a history of emphysema develops a respiratory infection and is admitted to the hospital in acute respiratory distress. The client's blood studies indicate pH 7.30, PO2 60 mm Hg, PCO2 55 mm Hg, and HCO3 23 mEq/L. The nurse concludes that the client is experiencing what?

Respiratory Acidosis

When caring for an anxious patient, the nurse should monitor for which signs of hyperventilation?

Respiratory Alkalosis

A child has been admitted to the pediatric unit with a severe asthma attack. What type of acid-base imbalance should the nurse expect the child to develop?

Respiratory acidosis caused by impaired respirations and increased formation of carbonic acid

A nurse is planning care for a school-aged child experiencing respiratory acidosis. What is the sequence of events that occurs in the child's respiratory response to acidosis? Place the physiological responses in the order in which they occur.

Respiratory compensation to acidosis involves hyperventilation with increased CO2elimination. As carbon dioxide is blown off there is a decrease in the hydrogen ions in the blood, leading to an increase in pH to expected limits.

Which is a clinical manifestation of respiratory acidosis?

Tremors

Which nursing action would be appropriate to decrease carbon dioxide for a client with respiratory acidosis?

Using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

The nurse is caring for a client who has metabolic acidosis as a result of severe dehydration. Which type of respirations does the nurse expect the client to exhibit?

Kussmaul's breathing