A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has the following arterial blood gas (ABG) results: a blood pH of 7.29, a partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) level of 49 mm Hg, and a bicarbonate ion (HCO3) level of 25 mEq/L. Which condition would the nurse have in mind when developing the patient's plan of care?

Metabolic acidosis.

Metabolic alkalosis.

Respiratory acidosis.

Respiratory alkalosis.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale:

Metabolic acidosis is characterized by low blood pH and low bicarbonate ion levels. In this case, the patient has a high bicarbonate ion level (25 mEq/L), indicating a compensatory response to respiratory acidosis. Metabolic alkalosis, on the other hand, would present with high pH and high bicarbonate ion levels.

Choice B rationale:

Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by high blood pH and high bicarbonate ion levels. The patient's bicarbonate ion level (25 mEq/L) is within the normal range, and the low pH and high PaCO2 (49 mm Hg) indicate respiratory acidosis, not metabolic alkalosis.

Choice C rationale:

Respiratory acidosis is characterized by low blood pH and high partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) levels. In this case, the patient has a low pH (7.29) and elevated PaCO2 (49 mm Hg), indicating respiratory acidosis. The elevated bicarbonate ion level (25 mEq/L) is a compensatory response. Respiratory alkalosis would present with high pH and low PaCO2 levels.

Choice D rationale:

Respiratory alkalosis is characterized by high blood pH and low PaCO2 levels. The patient's PaCO2 level is elevated (49 mm Hg), indicating respiratory acidosis, not alkalosis. The low pH (7.29) further supports the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice B rationale:

A decrease in plasma renin levels is not a known cause of primary hypertension. Primary hypertension often has no identifiable cause, and it is a diagnosis of exclusion.

Choice C rationale:

Too much plaque in the blood vessels describes atherosclerosis, which is a risk factor for hypertension but not the direct cause of primary hypertension. Plaque buildup narrows arteries and increases resistance, contributing to elevated blood pressure.

Choice D rationale:

Kidney disease can cause secondary hypertension but is not the most common cause of primary hypertension. Primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, is the most common form, and its exact cause remains unknown in many cases.

A. Purpura. B. Bruising. C. Petechiae. D. Ecchymosis.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Purpura refers to purple or red discolorations on the skin caused by bleeding underneath the skin. It is larger than petechiae and ecchymosis and could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition. Petechiae are small, red or purple dots that appear on the skin due to minor bleeding from broken capillaries. In the context of leukemia and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), petechiae are common due to impaired clotting mechanisms.

Choice B rationale:

Bruising occurs due to damage to blood vessels underneath the skin, resulting in the leakage of blood into the surrounding tissues. Bruises are typically larger than petechiae and can occur with various conditions, including trauma. In this case, the small 1-mm red macules are more indicative of petechiae.

Choice D rationale:

Ecchymosis refers to a larger area of subcutaneous bleeding or bruising. It is larger than both petechiae and purpura and often results from more significant trauma or bleeding disorders. The description of multiple 1-mm red macules is characteristic of petechiae rather than ecchymosis.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient is diagnosed with primary hypertension and asks the nurse what caused the condition.Which response would the nurse give?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

With which term will the nurse document the finding after noting multiple 1-mm red macules when assessing the skin of a patient with leukemia and thrombocytopenia?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A patient with thalassemia major who is receiving a blood transfusion shows signs of hemochromatosis.The nurse anticipates a prescription for which medication?

Which change occurs first, making patients susceptible to coronary artery disease?

Which laboratory report finding would support the nurse's conclusion that a patient has thalassemia major? Select all that apply.One, some, or all responses may be correct.

A patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) results include a pH of 7.32, a PaCO2 of 56 mm Hg, and an HCO3 of 24 mEq/L. Which acid-base imbalance would the nurse use when developing the patient's plan of care?

Which statement is true regarding hemophilia?

Which arterial blood gas (ABG) data corresponds with a patient's clinical manifestations of respiratory alkalosis?

The nurse suspects that which condition associated with chronic heart failure is the cause of a patient's inability to sleep well due to frequent urination?

A healthy 70-year-old patient has low hemoglobin levels and no signs of gastrointestinal bleeding.The nurse recognizes which item is an effect of aging that could be the reason for the low hemoglobin level?