A client’s PaCO2 is abnormal on an ABG report. What does the nurse suspect as the most likely medical diagnosis?

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).

Chronic Renal Insufficiency or Failure (CRF).

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A reason: STIs do not typically cause abnormal PaCO2, which reflects respiratory or metabolic issues, unlike COPD’s impact on CO2 retention. Assuming STI is likely risks misdiagnosis, potentially delaying respiratory intervention, critical to avoid in ensuring accurate assessment and treatment based on arterial blood gas abnormalities in clients.

Choice B reason: CRF may cause metabolic acidosis, affecting pH, but PaCO2 is primarily respiratory, making COPD more likely. Assuming CRF is the cause risks overlooking airway issues, potentially delaying ventilation support, critical to prevent in ensuring precise diagnosis and management of abnormal PaCO2 in clients.

Choice C reason: COPD causes CO2 retention, elevating PaCO2 due to impaired gas exchange, a hallmark of respiratory acidosis, making it the likely diagnosis. Recognizing this is critical for timely respiratory interventions, ensuring oxygenation, preventing deterioration, and supporting accurate management of clients with abnormal arterial blood gas results.

Choice D reason: CHF may cause pulmonary edema, but PaCO2 is less directly affected than in COPD’s chronic CO2 retention. Assuming CHF is primary risks missing airway obstruction, potentially delaying respiratory care, critical to avoid in ensuring correct diagnosis and treatment of abnormal PaCO2 in clients.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: School-age children lose fluids with diarrhea but have better compensatory mechanisms than infants, who are most vulnerable. Assuming children are at highest risk underestimates infant susceptibility, potentially delaying intervention, critical to avoid in ensuring rapid fluid management in pediatric diarrhea cases.

Choice B reason: Young adults have robust compensatory mechanisms, unlike infants, who face rapid imbalances from diarrhea. Assuming adults are most at risk overlooks infant vulnerability, potentially neglecting urgent care, critical to prevent in ensuring timely fluid and electrolyte management in diarrhea-affected populations.

Choice C reason: Infants are most likely to suffer fluid and electrolyte imbalances from three-day diarrhea due to high body water content and limited reserves. This is critical for rapid intervention, preventing dehydration, ensuring stability, and supporting recovery in vulnerable pediatric populations with acute diarrheal illnesses.

Choice D reason: Adolescents have better fluid reserves than infants, who are most susceptible to diarrhea-related imbalances. Assuming adolescents are at highest risk overlooks infant vulnerability, potentially delaying critical care, critical to avoid in ensuring prompt fluid and electrolyte correction in diarrhea cases.

A. Low serum albumin. B. Low specific gravity. C. High hemoglobin. D. High blood urea nitrogen.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Low serum albumin indicates inadequate protein intake, as albumin synthesis relies on dietary protein, reflecting long-term nutritional status. This is critical for identifying malnutrition, guiding dietary interventions, preventing complications like edema, and ensuring comprehensive nutritional care in clients with suspected protein deficiency in clinical settings.

Choice B reason: Low specific gravity reflects urine concentration, not protein intake, unlike low albumin, which directly indicates protein deficiency. Assuming specific gravity is relevant risks missing nutritional issues, potentially delaying dietary corrections, critical to avoid in ensuring accurate assessment of protein status in nutritional evaluations.

Choice C reason: High hemoglobin suggests dehydration or other conditions, not protein deficiency, which low albumin indicates. Assuming hemoglobin is relevant risks misinterpreting nutritional status, potentially overlooking protein needs, critical to prevent in ensuring precise laboratory-based assessment and intervention for clients with dietary deficiencies.

Choice D reason: High blood urea nitrogen indicates renal issues or dehydration, not directly protein intake, unlike low albumin. Assuming BUN is the best indicator risks misdiagnosing nutritional status, potentially delaying protein-focused interventions, critical to avoid in ensuring accurate nutritional assessment and care planning for clients.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A client’s PaCO2 is abnormal on an ABG report. What does the nurse suspect as the most likely medical diagnosis?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Which individual with diarrhea for three days is most likely to suffer from fluid and electrolyte imbalance?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The nurse is reviewing the laboratory findings of a patient to assess the patient’s nutritional status. The nurse understands the laboratory finding that is the best indicator of inadequate protein intake is a

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who complains about sleep apnea. Which delivery device would the nurse expect to use to administer oxygen to this client while sleeping?

An appropriate nursing diagnosis for the family of a client dying of cancer whose members have expressed sorrow over the forthcoming loss would be

A dying client tells the nurse that he doesn’t want to see his family because he doesn’t want to cause them more sadness. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

A dying client is crying. She states, “Why me, Lord?” and “I can’t pray.” What would be the most appropriate nursing diagnosis based on this data?

A nurse is considering the delegation of administering topical medications to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). What is the first question the nurse must ask herself before doing so?

The nurse has just graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is eager to find a mentor at this early stage in her career. Which of the following individuals is most likely to be an appropriate mentor for the nurse?

Which of the following statements is an appropriate nursing diagnosis for a client 80 years of age diagnosed with congestive heart failure, with symptoms of edema, orthopnea, and confusion?