NU322 - Ticket to Test Acid Base
The nurse is caring for a patient with metabolic acidosis (pH 7.25). Which of the following values is useful to the nurse in determining whether the cause of the acidosis is due to acid gain or to bicarbonate loss?
Anion gap
A client with emphysema is at a greater risk for developing which acid-base imbalance?
Chronic respiratory acidosis
The nurse in the medical ICU is caring for a client who is in respiratory acidosis due to inadequate ventilation. What diagnosis could the client have that could cause inadequate ventilation?
Guillain-Barre syndrome
A client with a suspected overdose of an unknown drug is admitted to the emergency department. Arterial blood gas values indicate respiratory acidosis. What should the nurse do first?
Prepare to assist with ventilation
A client comes to the emergency department with status asthmaticus. His respiratory rate is 48 breaths/minute, and he 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 client is hyperventilating. The triage nurse is aware that hyperventilation is the most common cause of which acid-base imbalance?
Respiratory alkalosis
A nurse is planning care for a nephrology client with a new nursing graduate. The nurse states, "A client with kidney disease partially loses the ability to regulate changes in pH." What is the cause of this partial inability?
The kidneys regenerate and reabsorb bicarbonate to maintain a stable pH.
The nurse is caring for a client with severe diarrhea. The nurse recognizes that the client is at risk for developing which acid-base imbalance?
metabolic acidosis
Which set of ABG results requires further investigation?
pH 7.49 PaCO2 30 HCO3 18
Which of the following may be the first sign of respiratory acidosis in anesthetized patients?
Ventricular fibrillation
Which condition might occur with respiratory acidosis?
Increased intracranial pressure
A client has a respiratory rate of 38 breaths/min. What effect does breathing faster have on arterial pH level?
Increases arterial pH
A client recovering from an acute asthma attack experiences respiratory alkalosis. The nurse measures a respiratory rate of 46 breaths/minute, a heart rate of 110 beats/minute, a blood pressure of 162/90 mm Hg, and a temperature of 98.6° F (37° C). To help correct respiratory alkalosis, the nurse should:
Instruct the client to breathe into a paper bag
A client who is being treated for pneumonia reports sudden shortness of breath. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is drawn. The ABG has the following values: pH 7.21, PaCO2 64 mm Hg, HCO3 = 24 mm Hg. What does the ABG reflect?
Respiratory acidosis
A nurse caring for a patient with metabolic alkalosis knows to assess for the primary, compensatory mechanism of:
increased PaCO2
The emergency-room nurse is caring for a trauma client who has the following ABG results: pH 7.26 PaCO2 28 HCO3 11 How should the nurse interpret these results?
Metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis
A client in the emergency department reports that he has been vomiting excessively for the past 2 days. His 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
A nurse is providing client teaching about the body's plasma pH and the client asks the nurse what is the major chemical regulator of plasma pH. What is the best response by the nurse?
bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer system
A client who complains of an "acid stomach" has been taking baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) regularly as a self-treatment. This may place the client at risk for which acid-base imbalance?
metabolic alkalosis
The nurse is analyzing the arterial blood gas (ABG) results of a client diagnosed with severe pneumonia. Which of the following ABG results indicates respiratory acidosis?
pH 7.20 PaCO2 65 HCO3 26
A client with Guillain-Barré syndrome develops respiratory acidosis as a result of reduced alveolar ventilation. Which combination of arterial blood gas (ABG) values confirms respiratory acidosis?
pH: 7.25 PaCO2: 50
Which ABG result would the nurse anticipate for a client with a 3-day history of vomiting?
pH: 7.55 PaCO2: 60 HCO3: 28
A client presents with severe diarrhea and a history of chronic renal failure to the emergency department. Arterial blood gas results are as follows: pH 7.30 PaCO2 37 HCO3 18 The nurse would expect which of the following sets of assessment findings?
Clammy skin, blood pressure 86/46, headache
Upon shift report, the nurse states the following laboratory values: pH: 7.44; PCO2: 30mmHg; and HCO3: 21 mEq/L for a client with noted acid-base disturbances. Which acid-base imbalance do both nurses agree is the client's current state?
Compensated respiratory alkalosis
The nurse is caring for a client with multiple organ failure and in metabolic acidosis. Which pair of organs is responsible for regulatory processes and compensation?
Lungs and kidneys
The physician has prescribed 0.9% sodium chloride IV for a hospitalized client in metabolic alkalosis. Which nursing actions are required to manage this client?
Maintain intake and output records Document presenting signs and symptoms Compare ABG findings with previous results
A client has the following ABG values: pH 7.12 PaCO2: 40 HCO3: 15 These ABG values suggest which disorder?
Metabolic 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
The ICU nurse is caring for a client who experienced trauma in a workplace accident. The client is reporting dyspnea because of abdominal pain. An ABG reveals the following results: pH 7.28, PaCO2 50 mm Hg, HCO3- 20 mEq/L. The nurse should recognize the likelihood of what acid-base disorder(s)?
Respiratory acidosis and metabolic acidosis
Which medication does the nurse anticipate administering to antagonize the effects of potassium on the heart for a patient in severe metabolic acidosis?
Sodium bicarbonate
