PrepU Acid-Base Quizzes
A nurse teaches a client experiencing heartburn to take 1½ oz of Maalox when symptoms appear. How many milliliters should the client take?
45
A client has vomited several times over the past 12 hours. The nurse should recognize the risk of what complication?
metabolic alkalosis
As status asthmaticus worsens, the nurse would expect the client to experience which acid-base imbalance?
respiratory acidosis
A client is admitted with a diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis. An insulin drip is initiated with 50 units of insulin in 100 ml of normal saline solution administered via an infusion pump set at 10 ml/hour. The nurse determines that the client is receiving how many units of insulin each hour? Record your answer using a whole number.
5
The nurse interprets which finding as an early sign of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a client at risk?
hypoxia not responsive to oxygen therapy
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), decreased carbon dioxide elimination results in increased carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood, leading to what acid-base imbalance?
respiratory acidosis
The nurse is caring for a lethargic but arousable preschooler who is a victim of a near-drowning accident. What should the nurse do first?
Administer oxygen.
A client's arterial blood gas values are as shown on the accompanying chart. These findings indicate which of the following acid-base imbalances?
Metabolic acidosis
Oxygen at the rate of 2 liters per minute through nasal cannula is prescribed for a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which of the following statements best describes why the oxygen therapy is maintained at a relatively low concentration?
The client's respiratory center is so used to high carbon dioxide and low oxygen levels that changing these levels may eliminate his stimulus for breathing.
The nurse assesses a child with ketoacidosis. What manifestations are supportive of the diagnosis of ketoacidosis?
deep, rapid respirations
A client is in a metabolic acidosis from severe diarrhea. What assessment finding would be most concerning?
irregular heart rate
A client has been diagnosed with an intestinal obstruction and has a nasogastric tube set to low continuous suction. Which acid-base disturbance is this client at risk for developing?
metabolic alkalosis
When evaluating a client's arterial blood gases (ABGs), which value is consistent with metabolic alkalosis?
pH 7.48
A client has been diagnosed with metabolic alkalosis. The nurse should anticipate what finding from the client's arterial blood gases?
serum bicarbonate of 28 mEq/L
The nurse is admitting a client with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus and left-sided heart failure. Assessment reveals low blood pressure, increased respiratory rate and depth, drowsiness, and confusion. The client reports headache and nausea. Based on the serum laboratory results, how would the nurse interpret the client's acid-base balance?
metabolic acidosis
A client admitted to the hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis is receiving a continuous infusion of regular insulin. The physician orders an I.V. containing 1 liter of dextrose 5% in water at 150 ml/hour to be started when the client's blood glucose level reaches [250 mg/dl (13.9 mmol/L)]. The drip factor of the I.V. tubing is 15 gtt/ml. What is the drip rate for this I.V. infusion in drops per minute? Record your answer using one decimal place.
37.5
A client admitted with acute anxiety has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) values: pH, 7.55; partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2), 90 mm Hg; partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), 27 mm Hg; and bicarbonate (HCO3-), 24 mEq/L. Based on these values, the nurse suspects
respiratory alkalosis
A nurse is assessing a 6-month-old infant at a well-baby check. The parent says that the infant has been having diarrhea for the last 2 days. Which is the nurse's priority action?
Collect more data from parent about the diarrhea.
A nurse is caring for an adult client with anxiety and chest pain. The nurse receives the arterial blood gas result pH-7.50, PCO2- 28 mmHg (3.72 kPa), Po2- 120mm Hg (15.96 kPa), HCO3-23mEq/L (23.00 mmol/L). What are the priority action(s) by the nurse? Select all that apply.
Encourage the client to verbalize fears. Keep the client warm and dry. Encourage the client to breathe into a closed container.
Which intervention is most appropriate for a client with an arterial blood gas (ABG) of pH 7.5, a partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 26 mm Hg, oxygen (O2) saturation of 96%, bicarbonate (HCO3-) of 24 mEq/L, and a PaO2 of 94 mm Hg?
Instruct the client to breathe into a paper bag.
A client with acute respiratory distress syndrome is showing signs of increased dyspnea. The nurse reviews a report of blood gas values (see report). Which finding is abnormal?
PaCO2
A client is diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which finding would the nurse anticipate?
arterial pH 7.33
A client with emphysema is at a greater risk for developing what acid-base imbalance?
chronic respiratory acidosis
Which physical sensation will the client who has had an abdominal hysterectomy most likely experience if she hyperventilates while performing deep-breathing exercises?
dizziness
A client who has been recently extubated has shortness of breath. The nurse reports the client's discomfort and the results of the recently prescribed arterial blood gas analysis to the health care provider (HCP). After reviewing the report of the complete blood count (see report), the nurse should also report which results to the HCP?
hemoglobin and hematocrit
A client hospitalized for treatment of a pulmonary embolism develops respiratory alkalosis. Which clinical findings commonly accompany respiratory alkalosis?
light-headedness or paresthesia
A client's arterial blood gas values are shown. The nurse should develop a care plan based on the fact the client is experiencing which clinical situation?
metabolic acidosis
A client in the emergency department reports that they have been vomiting excessively for the past 2 days. The client's arterial blood gas analysis shows a pH of 7.50, partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 43 mm Hg, partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) of 75 mm Hg, and bicarbonate (HCO3-) of 42 mEq/L. Based on these findings, the nurse documents that the client is experiencing which type of acid-base imbalance?
metabolic alkalosis
The nurse on a surgical unit is caring for a client recovering from recent surgery with the placement of a nasogastric tube on low continuous suction. Which acid-base imbalance is most likely to occur?
metabolic alkalosis
A nurse is caring for a 12-month-old infant with dehydration with resulting metabolic acidosis. The infant exhibits lethargy and poor skin turgor. Which action by the nurse takes priority?
obtaining a patent intravenous site
A neonate weighing 1,870 g with a respiratory rate of 46 breaths/minute, a pulse rate of 175 bpm, and a serum pH of 7.11 has received sodium bicarbonate intravenously. The drug has been effective if the neonate exhibits which finding?
resolves the metabolic acidosis
A client appears flushed and has shallow respirations. The arterial blood gas report shows the following: pH, 7.24; partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), 49 mm Hg (6.5 kPa); bicarbonate (HCO3-), 24 mEq/L (24 mmol/L). These findings are indicative of which acid-base imbalance?
respiratory acidosis
A client has a dull headache, is dizzy, and has an increased pulse rate. The results of arterial blood gas analysis are as follows: pH 7.26; partial pressure of carbon dioxide, 50 mm Hg (6.7 kPa); and bicarbonate, 24 mEq/L (24 mmol/L). These findings indicate which acid-base imbalance?
respiratory acidosis
A client has these arterial blood gas values: pH, 7.30; PaO2, 89 mm Hg; PaCO2, 50 mm Hg; and HCO3-, 26 mEq/L. Based on these values, the nurse should suspect which condition?
respiratory acidosis
A nurse is caring for a client admitted with a diagnosis of exacerbation of myasthenia gravis. Upon assessment of the client, the nurse notes the client has severely depressed respirations. The nurse would expect to identify which acid-base disturbance?
respiratory acidosis
What factor has the potential to lead to chronic respiratory acidosis in older adults?
thoracic skeletal changes
The nurse is caring for a client with multiple organ failure who is in metabolic acidosis. Which pair of organs is responsible for regulatory processes and compensation?
lungs and kidneys
For the child experiencing excessive vomiting secondary to pyloric stenosis, the nurse should assess the child for which acid-base imbalance?
metabolic alkalosis
The nurse is interpreting blood gases for a client with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Which set of arterial blood gas values does the nurse expect for this client?
pH 7.25, PaCO2 48, HCO3 24
A nurse assesses arterial blood gas results for a client in acute respiratory failure (ARF). Which result is consistent with this disorder?
pH 7.28, PaO2 50 mm Hg
A nurse is reviewing arterial blood gas (ABG) results on four clients. Which results would the nurse report immediately to the healthcare provider?
pH 7.31, PaO2 84 mmHg, PaCO2 50 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L, and O2 sat 90%
The nurse has received lab reports for several clients undergoing care. Which set of arterial blood gas (ABG) results will the nurse investigate first?
pH 7.49, PaCO2 30 mmHg, PaO2 75 mmHg, and HCO3- 22 mEq/L
The nurse is analyzing the arterial blood gas (AGB) results of a client diagnosed with severe pneumonia. What ABG results are most consistent with this diagnosis?
pH: 7.20, PaCO2: 65 mm Hg, HCO3-: 26 mEq/L
A client is receiving supplemental oxygen. When determining the effectiveness of oxygen therapy, which arterial blood gas value is most important?
partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)
The nurse assesses an adolescent client with lethargy, retractions of the intercostal spaces, a persistent expiratory wheeze, diminished breath sounds, tachycardia, and tachypnea. Arterial blood gas results are pH 7.10; PCO2 80 mm Hg (10.64 kPa); PO2 35 mm Hg (4.66 kPa), HCO3 29 mEq/l (29 mmol/l). What is the priority condition the nurse must address?
respiratory acidosis
A client comes to the emergency department with status asthmaticus. The client's respiratory rate is 48 breaths/minute, and the client is wheezing. An arterial blood gas analysis reveals a pH of 7.52, a partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 30 mm Hg, PaO2 of 70 mm Hg, and bicarbonate (HCO3--) of 26 mEq/L. What disorder is indicated by these findings?
respiratory alkalosis
A client with a longstanding diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder presents to the emergency room. The triage nurse notes upon assessment that the patient is hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most common cause of:
respiratory alkalosis.
A client experiencing a severe asthma attack has the following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.33; Pco2 48 mm Hg (6.4 kPa); Po2 58 mm Hg (7.7 kPa); HCO3 26 mEq/L (26 mmol/L). Which prescription should the nurse implement first?
albuterol nebulizer
The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and experiencing respiratory acidosis. The decrease in pH exists because the client's lungs:
are unable to blow off carbon dioxide.
A nurse is reviewing arterial blood gas results on an assigned client. The pH is 7.32 with PCO2 of 49 mm Hg and a HCO3−of 28 mEq/L. The nurse reports to the physician which finding?
respiratory acidosis
