A client has been admitted with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Diagnostic tests have been ordered. Which of the tests will provide the most accurate indicator of the client's acid-base balance?
Bronchoscopy
Pulmonary function tests
Pulse oximetry
Arterial blood gases
The Correct Answer is D
Rationale:
A. Bronchoscopy allows for direct visualization of the airways and may be used for sampling or clearing secretions but does not assess acid-base balance.
B. Pulmonary function tests evaluate lung volume and airflow but are not specific to acid-base status.
C. Pulse oximetry measures oxygen saturation, which reflects oxygenation but not CO₂ levels or pH status.
D. Arterial blood gases (ABGs) are the most accurate test for evaluating acid-base balance, as they provide values for pH, PaCO₂, HCO₃⁻, and PaO₂ — essential indicators in COPD management.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. The respiratory system responds within minutes by altering CO₂ levels through breathing, but it is not the slowest system.
B. Chemical buffer systems act immediately to maintain pH balance but are only a temporary solution.
C. The endocrine system plays a role in general homeostasis but is not a primary regulator of acid-base balance.
D. The renal system is the slowest but most powerful regulator of acid-base balance. It maintains long-term pH stability by excreting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing bicarbonate.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Kidneys regulate bicarbonate and acid-base balance but do not directly regulate CO₂ levels.
B. Blood carries CO₂ but does not regulate its amount.
C. Pancreas is involved in digestion and insulin secretion, not CO₂ regulation.
D. Lungs regulate CO₂ by controlling its exhalation during respiration, directly affecting CO₂ levels in the blood.
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