The nurse is caring for a client with the following arterial blood gas (ABG) results: pH 7.32, PaCO2 33 mmHg, Pa02 88 mmHg, HCO3 16 mEg/L. The nurse would Interpret these results as:

Table 9.9 Normal Arterial Blood Gas Values

ABG Value.                                                             Normal Value

pH                                                                             7.35-7.45

PaCO2                                                                                                            35-45 mmHg

HCO3-                                                                         22-25mEq/L

Base excess                                                               -2 to +2

PaO2                                                                            80-95 mmHg

SaO2                                                                            >95%

A. pH 7.33, PaCO2 35 mmHg, PaO2 78 mmHg, HCO3 20 mEq/L:
This answer choice indicates respiratory acidosis (pH < 7.35, low bicarbonate), but the goal in acute respiratory failure is not just to adjust the pH alone; the more immediate concern is correcting oxygenation. The PaO2 of 78 mmHg is below the normal range (80-100 mmHg), indicating hypoxemia that should be corrected first. The goal should be to improve PaO2 to acceptable levels (≥80 mmHg) and achieve adequate oxygen saturation. This ABG result does not fully align with the immediate goals of treatment.

B. Heart rate 80 and respiratory rate 20:
While normal vital signs like heart rate and respiratory rate are important, they are not the primary goal of treatment in acute respiratory failure. The focus during ventilator support is to improve oxygenation and ventilation rather than simply achieving normal heart and respiratory rates. In acute respiratory failure, abnormal heart and respiratory rates are often a result of hypoxia or hypercapnia (high CO2), so normalizing oxygenation and carbon dioxide levels is more critical initially.

C. O2 saturation of at least 94%:
The primary goal in acute respiratory failure is to maintain adequate oxygenation. In this context, the goal of ventilator support is to correct hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) and restore normal oxygen saturation. A target oxygen saturation of at least 94% is commonly considered appropriate for most patients in acute respiratory failure to ensure that tissues are receiving enough oxygen to prevent organ damage. This is a key aspect of managing respiratory failure and ensuring adequate tissue perfusion. Oxygen saturation below 90% is typically considered to indicate a severe level of hypoxemia, requiring prompt intervention.

D. Sodium 135 mg/dL and potassium 4.8 mg/dL:
While electrolyte levels are important to monitor in any critically ill patient, the main goal of treatment in acute respiratory failure is improving oxygenation and ventilation rather than focusing specifically on normalizing sodium or potassium levels. Correcting imbalances in electrolytes can be part of overall care, but it is not the primary objective in this situation. Oxygenation (as measured by PaO2 and O2 saturation) takes priority over correcting individual electrolytes.

A. Decrease in heart rate: While nitroglycerin can sometimes cause reflex tachycardia (an increase in heart rate) as a compensatory mechanism in response to a decrease in blood pressure, its primary effect is on reducing myocardial oxygen demand through vasodilation. Although heart rate may decrease in some situations due to improved perfusion or as a secondary response to pain relief, a decrease in heart rate is not the most reliable or immediate indicator of effectiveness in this context. The relief of chest pain is a more direct measure of the drug's impact.

B. Relief of chest pain: Nitroglycerin works by dilating blood vessels, which reduces myocardial oxygen demand and improves blood flow to the heart, particularly in cases of acute myocardial infarction (MI). The primary therapeutic goal is to relieve chest pain (angina) and reduce the workload of the heart. Monitoring for relief of chest pain is the most direct and important indicator of the medication's effectiveness. If the chest pain decreases or resolves, it suggests that the medication is helping to alleviate the ischemia caused by the MI.

C. Decrease in cardiac dysrhythmias: Nitroglycerin is not primarily used to treat dysrhythmias, although improved perfusion and reduced myocardial oxygen demand may indirectly reduce the occurrence of dysrhythmias in some cases. However, a decrease in dysrhythmias is not a primary goal of nitroglycerin therapy, and the nurse should not primarily monitor for this outcome. Any dysrhythmias should be managed with other specific interventions if needed.

D. Decrease in blood pressure: Nitroglycerin's vasodilatory effect does lead to a reduction in blood pressure, particularly in patients with high blood pressure or in the context of a myocardial infarction. However, excessive hypotension can be dangerous and may lead to inadequate perfusion of vital organs. The nurse must monitor blood pressure closely to avoid hypotension, but a decrease in blood pressure is not the main goal of therapy. The primary objective is to relieve the chest pain associated with the MI. If blood pressure drops too low, it may indicate a need to adjust the dose or discontinue the nitroglycerin.