A nurse is assessing a patient with respiratory acidosis.
What symptoms should the nurse anticipate?
Numbness in the fingers.
Abdominal pain.
Dry skin.
Lethargy.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
Numbness in the fingers is not typically a symptom of respiratory acidosis. This condition is characterized by an excess of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the body, which leads to a decrease in the pH of your blood, making it too acidic. Numbness in the fingers could be a symptom of other conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy or Raynaud’s disease.
Choice B rationale:
Abdominal pain is also not a common symptom of respiratory acidosis. While abdominal discomfort can occur in a variety of conditions, it is not directly associated with the acid-base balance disturbance that characterizes respiratory acidosis.
Conditions that commonly cause abdominal pain include gastrointestinal issues like gastritis, appendicitis, or gallstones.
Choice C rationale:
Dry skin is not a symptom of respiratory acidosis. The skin’s condition can be influenced by many factors, including hydration, environmental conditions, and certain skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Respiratory acidosis, on the other hand, is a condition that affects the acid-base balance in the body due to alveolar hypoventilation.
Choice D rationale:
Lethargy is indeed a symptom of respiratory acidosis. This condition occurs when the lungs can’t remove enough CO2, leading to an increase in the acidity of the blood. Symptoms of respiratory acidosis vary according to how long you’ve had the condition and its severity. Initial symptoms can include anxiety, blurred vision, and shortness of breath. If left untreated or in severe cases, symptoms may include fatigue, lethargy, delirium, or confusion. Therefore, a nurse assessing a patient with respiratory acidosis should anticipate lethargy among other symptoms.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Dry skin is not typically associated with respiratory alkalosis. Respiratory alkalosis occurs when the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood aren’t balanced. It occurs when you breathe too fast or too deep and carbon dioxide levels drop too low. This condition does not directly cause dry skin.
Choice B rationale:
Abdominal pain is not a common symptom of respiratory alkalosis. The condition is usually caused by over-breathing (called hyperventilation) that occurs when you breathe very deeply or rapidly. While it can cause discomfort, it does not typically result in abdominal pain.
Choice C rationale:
Diarrhea is not a direct symptom of respiratory alkalosis. However, the stress or anxiety that can cause hyperventilation and lead to respiratory alkalosis might also upset the digestive system and cause diarrhea. It’s important to note that while stress and anxiety can cause both conditions, they are not a direct result of the respiratory alkalosis itself.
Choice D rationale:
Flank pain is not a symptom of respiratory alkalosis. Flank pain is often associated with kidney problems, not respiratory conditions. Respiratory alkalosis is characterized by symptoms such as dizziness, bloating, feeling light-headed, numbness or muscle spasms in the hands and feet, discomfort in the chest area, confusion, dry mouth, tingling in the arms, heart palpitations, and feeling short of breath.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Administering insulin to a client who is hyperventilating due to respiratory alkalosis would not be the appropriate action. Insulin is used to lower blood glucose levels in clients with hyperglycemia, such as those with diabetes mellitus. It does not directly address the issues of hyperventilation or respiratory alkalosis.
Choice B rationale:
Having the client breathe into a paper bag is the correct action in this case. When a person hyperventilates, they exhale more carbon dioxide (CO2) than they produce. This can lead to a state of respiratory alkalosis, where the blood becomes too alkaline due to the low levels of CO2. By breathing into a paper bag, the client re-inhales some of the exhaled CO2, helping to restore the balance of gases in the blood and alleviate the symptoms of respiratory alkalosis.
Choice C rationale:
Administering sodium bicarbonate to a client who is hyperventilating and has respiratory alkalosis would not be the appropriate action. Sodium bicarbonate is an alkalinizing agent used to treat conditions where there is too much acid in the body, such as metabolic acidosis. In this case, the client’s body is too alkaline due to the respiratory alkalosis, so administering an alkalinizing agent would exacerbate the condition.
Choice D rationale:
Having the client place their head between their knees would not be the appropriate action for a client who is hyperventilating due to respiratory alkalosis. This position is often used to help alleviate symptoms of dizziness or fainting, but it does not address the underlying issue of the imbalance of gases in the blood due to hyperventilation.
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