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If a patient began vomiting and continued to do so for several hours, the nurse is aware that this loss of stomach contents can result in:

A.

metabolic alkalosis

B.

respiratory alkalosis

C.

respiratory acidosis

D.

metabolic acidosis

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Rationale:
A. Metabolic alkalosis occurs because vomiting causes loss of gastric hydrochloric acid (HCl), reducing hydrogen ions in the body and increasing blood pH. This is the most common acid-base imbalance associated with prolonged vomiting.
B. Respiratory alkalosis results from excessive loss of CO₂ due to hyperventilation, unrelated to vomiting.
C. Respiratory acidosis results from hypoventilation causing CO₂ retention; vomiting does not cause this.
D. Metabolic acidosis occurs when there is a loss of bicarbonate or accumulation of acids, such as in diarrhea or ketoacidosis, not typically from vomiting.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Rationale:
A. A potassium level of 4.9 mEq/L is within the normal reference range (typically 3.5–5.0 mEq/L), indicating that the hyperkalemia has been successfully corrected.
B. A potassium level of 5.5 mEq/L is still above normal and does not suggest full effectiveness of the treatment.
C. A potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L remains critically high and indicates that the medication was not effective.
D. A potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L is still elevated and may continue to pose cardiac risks, suggesting partial or no effectiveness.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Rationale:
A. The respiratory system responds within minutes by altering CO₂ levels through breathing, but it is not the slowest system.
B. Chemical buffer systems act immediately to maintain pH balance but are only a temporary solution.
C. The endocrine system plays a role in general homeostasis but is not a primary regulator of acid-base balance.
D. The renal system is the slowest but most powerful regulator of acid-base balance. It maintains long-term pH stability by excreting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing bicarbonate.

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