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?

Respiratory acidosis

Respiratory alkalosis

Metabolic acidosis

Metabolic alkalosis

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. Respiratory acidosis occurs due to hypoventilation, resulting in carbon dioxide retention. This condition is characterized by slow, shallow breathing and confusion, which is not consistent with the client's rapid respiratory rate of 30/min.
B. Respiratory alkalosis is typically caused by hyperventilation, where excessive breathing leads to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels. The client's symptoms of high anxiety and rapid, shallow respirations are indicative of hyperventilation, making respiratory alkalosis the most likely diagnosis.
C. Metabolic acidosis is characterized by deep, rapid breathing (Kussmaul respirations) as the body attempts to expel excess acid. The client's shallow respirations are inconsistent with the breathing pattern seen in metabolic acidosis.
D. Metabolic alkalosis usually presents with symptoms such as dizziness and tingling, often with compensatory slow respirations. The rapid respiratory rate in this case does not suggest metabolic alkalosis, making this option unlikely.

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 A

Explanation

A. Bronchospasm occurs when there is inflammation, edema, and excess mucus: Bronchospasm in asthma is characterized by inflammation of the airways, edema of the airway walls, and increased mucus production, leading to constriction and obstruction of the airways.

B. Decreased mucus production contributes to airway constriction: In asthma, bronchospasm is associated with increased mucus production, not decreased. Excess mucus contributes to airway obstruction.

C. Inflammation is reduced due to airway diameter: Inflammation typically increases airway constriction rather than reducing it. The narrowed airway diameter is a result of inflammation, not a reduction in inflammation.

D. Airway obstruction occurs due to thinning mucus: Airway obstruction in asthma is due to thick, tenacious mucus, not thinning mucus. The mucus contributes to the blockage of the airways.

A. (Select All that Apply.) B. The client who has renal failure C. The client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy D. The client who has hyperparathyroidism E. The client who has vitamin D deficiency F. The client who is receiving bisphosphonate medications

Correct Answer is ["A","B","D","E"]

Explanation

A. The client who has renal failure: Renal failure can lead to hypocalcemia due to the kidneys' reduced ability to convert vitamin D to its active form, leading to decreased calcium absorption.

B. The client who is postoperative following a thyroidectomy: Hypocalcemia can occur after thyroidectomy if the parathyroid glands are inadvertently damaged or removed, as they regulate calcium levels.

C. The client who has hyperparathyroidism: Hyperparathyroidism typically leads to hypercalcemia, not hypocalcemia, as excessive parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases calcium levels in the blood.

D. The client who has vitamin D deficiency: Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption in the intestines, so a deficiency can lead to hypocalcemia.

E. The client who is receiving bisphosphonate medications: Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption, which can lead to a decrease in calcium levels, potentially causing hypocalcemia.

F. The client who has Addison's disease: Addison's disease is primarily associated with electrolyte imbalances like hyponatremia and hyperkalemia, not hypocalcemia.

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 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?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is caring for several clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which of the following clients have an elevated risk for hypocalcemia?

Correct Answer is ["A","B","D","E"]

Explanation

The nurse is reinforcing discharge instructions to the client with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The nurse knows that the client understands the information if the client verbalizes which early sign of exacerbation?

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?

A charge nurse is reinforcing teaching to a group of nurses about diffusion. Which of the following statements should the charge nurse include in their teaching about diffusion?

A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a tracheostomy and has copious and tenacious secretions. Which of the following is an acceptable method for the nurse to use to thin this client's secretions?

Which of the following are the most common manifestations of COPD? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse is providing care to a client who reports facial pain, including dental pain in the upper teeth. Which of the following additional symptoms would lead the nurse to suspect sinusitis as the source of the pain?

A nurse is caring for a client who has a positive Trousseau's sign and bone pain. Which of the following electrolyte imbalances should the nurse suspect to find with this client?

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?