A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is short of breath. When reviewing the client's arterial blood gases (ABGs), which of the following conditions should the nurse anticipate the client to be experiencing?

Respiratory acidosis

Respiratory alkalosis

Metabolic acidosis

Metabolic alkalosis

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. Respiratory acidosis: COPD often results in impaired gas exchange and decreased removal of carbon dioxide, leading to its accumulation in the blood. This results in respiratory acidosis, characterized by elevated PaCO2 and a decreased pH.

B. Respiratory alkalosis: This condition is generally associated with hyperventilation, where excessive loss of carbon dioxide leads to a higher blood pH. It is less common in COPD, where hypoventilation is more typical.

C. Metabolic acidosis: While COPD can sometimes lead to metabolic acidosis, it is not the primary condition associated with the disease. Metabolic acidosis usually results from conditions affecting the kidneys or metabolic processes.

D. Metabolic alkalosis: This is characterized by an increased blood pH due to a loss of acid or an excess of bicarbonate. It is not typically associated with COPD.

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 D

Explanation

A. Respiratory alkalosis: This condition is characterized by a high pH and low PaCO2. In this case, the pH is low and PaCO2 is high, indicating that respiratory alkalosis is not present.

B. Metabolic acidosis: Metabolic acidosis is indicated by a low pH and a low bicarbonate level. Here, the pH is low but the bicarbonate level is normal, so metabolic acidosis is not the primary diagnosis.

C. Metabolic alkalosis: This condition involves a high pH and elevated bicarbonate. The pH in this case is low, so metabolic alkalosis is not present.

D. Respiratory acidosis: Respiratory acidosis is indicated by a low pH and high PaCO2. The client's pH is 7.22 (acidic) and PaCO2 is 68 mm Hg (elevated), which is consistent with respiratory acidosis. The bicarbonate level is normal, indicating that there is no significant metabolic compensation yet.

A. Absence of breath sounds B. Coarse crackles C. Inspiratory stridor D. Expiratory wheeze

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Absence of breath sounds over the affected area is a hallmark sign of a pneumothorax. This occurs because air in the pleural space prevents lung expansion, leading to a lack of air movement and, consequently, no breath sounds. Monitoring for this symptom is critical in identifying a pneumothorax.
B. Coarse crackles are typically associated with fluid in the lungs, such as in cases of pulmonary edema or pneumonia. These sounds are not indicative of a pneumothorax, where air rather than fluid accumulates in the pleural space.
C. Inspiratory stridor is a high-pitched sound often associated with upper airway obstruction, such as in cases of croup or foreign body aspiration. It is not a common manifestation of a pneumothorax, which involves the pleural space rather than the upper airway.
D. Expiratory wheeze is typically associated with conditions that involve narrowing of the airways, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is not a characteristic finding in pneumothorax, where the issue is lung collapse rather than airway constriction.

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 nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is short of breath. When reviewing the client's arterial blood gases (ABGs), which of the following conditions should the nurse anticipate the client to be experiencing?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has multiple injuries following a motor vehicle crash. The nurse should monitor for which of the following manifestations of a pneumothorax?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client with asthma. Which of the following happens physiologically when bronchospasm occurs?

A nurse is caring for a client who has hypernatremia and is receiving intravenous (IV) hypotonic fluid replacement. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse understand is an indication of an adverse effect from the administration of hypotonic fluids?

The nurse is gathering data on a client with a diagnosis of tuberculosis. The nurse should review the results of which diagnostic test to confirm this diagnosis?

A charge nurse is reinforcing teaching with a newly licensed nurse about fluid shifts. The newly licensed nurse asks why sodium levels are high during dehydration. Which of the following responses should the charge nurse provide?

Exhibits Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment strategy for this patient, who is likely experiencing allergic rhinitis?

A nurse is caring for a client who has pneumonia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to thin the client's respiratory secretions?

A nurse is caring for a client in the emergency department (ED) who has high anxiety and shallow respirations at a rate of 30/min. Which of the following acid-base disturbances is the client most likely experiencing?