The nurse is caring for a patient who is anxious and dizzy following a traumatic experience. The arterial blood gas findings include: pH 7.48, PaO2 110, PaCO2 25, and HCO3 24. Which intervention should the nurse expect to be prescribed to correct this problem?

Encourage the patient to breathe in and out slowly into a paper bag.

Immediately administer oxygen via a mask and monitor oxygen saturation.

Anticipate the administration of intravenous sodium bicarbonate.

Prepare to start an intravenous fluid bolus using isotonic fluids.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

The correct answer is choice A: Encourage the patient to breathe in and out slowly into a paper bag.

Choice A rationale: The patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results indicate respiratory alkalosis, as evidenced by the elevated pH (7.48) and decreased PaCO2 (25 mm Hg). Respiratory alkalosis often results from hyperventilation, which can occur due to anxiety. Breathing into a paper bag helps to increase CO2 levels in the blood, thereby correcting the alkalosis.

Choice B rationale: Administering oxygen is not appropriate in this scenario because the patient’s PaO2 is already elevated (110 mm Hg), indicating that oxygenation is not the issue. Providing additional oxygen would not address the underlying problem of hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis.

Choice C rationale: Intravenous sodium bicarbonate is used to treat metabolic acidosis, not respiratory alkalosis. In this case, the patient’s HCO3 is within the normal range (24 mEq/L), indicating that there is no metabolic acidosis present.

Choice D rationale: Starting an intravenous fluid bolus with isotonic fluids is not indicated for correcting respiratory alkalosis. This intervention is more appropriate for patients experiencing hypovolemia or dehydration, which is not suggested by the patient’s ABG results.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Extracellular fluid deficit.

Choice A rationale:

Intracellular fluid deficit is a decrease in the fluid inside the cells, which may occur in conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Severe burns are more likely to cause extracellular fluid shifts rather than intracellular fluid deficits.

Choice B rationale:

Interstitial fluid deficit involves a decrease in fluid in the interstitial spaces between cells. While burns can lead to fluid shifts, the primary concern is fluid loss from the vascular space (extracellular fluid).

Choice C rationale:

Intracellular fluid overload is not a typical health problem associated with severe burns. Burn injuries are more likely to cause fluid loss and shifts out of the intracellular space.

Choice D rationale:

Severe burns can result in significant loss of plasma and extracellular fluid, leading to hypovolemia and extracellular fluid deficit. This fluid loss can lead to hypovolemic shock and other complications if not adequately managed.

A. Increased urine ketones. B. Decreased Hgb. C. Decreased urine specific gravity. D. Increased BUN.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Increased urine ketones are not indicative of fluid volume deficit. Instead, they may suggest diabetic ketoacidosis or starvation ketosis.

Choice B rationale:

Decreased Hgb (hemoglobin) is not specific to fluid volume deficit and can be seen in various conditions such as anemia or bleeding.

Choice C rationale:

Decreased urine specific gravity is not consistent with fluid volume deficit, as it usually results in concentrated urine with increased specific gravity.

Choice D rationale:

An increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is expected in fluid volume deficit due to reduced kidney perfusion and function. BUN is a marker of kidney function and is elevated when fluid volume is low.

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The nurse is caring for a patient who is anxious and dizzy following a traumatic experience. The arterial blood gas findings include: pH 7.48, PaO2 110, PaCO2 25, and HCO3 24. Which intervention should the nurse expect to be prescribed to correct this problem?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is planning care for a patient with severe burns. What health problem should the nurse realize that this patient could develop?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a client who has fluid volume deficit. The nurse should expect which of the following findings?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A client is admitted to the emergency room with a respiratory rate of 7/min. Arterial blood gases (ABG) reveal the following values. Which of the following is an appropriate analysis of the ABGs? pH 7.22, PacO₂ 68 mm Hg, Base excess -2, PaO₂ 78 mm Hg, Saturation 80%, Bicarbonate 26 mEq/L.

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has fluid volume deficit. The nurse would expect which of the following findings?

A nurse is planning to teach a client about a high-potassium diet. Which of the following foods should the nurse instruct the client to eat? (Select all that apply.).

A nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gas results for a client in the ICU who has kidney failure and determines the client has respiratory acidosis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A patient experiencing multisystem fluid volume deficit has tachycardia, pale, cool skin, and decreased urine output. The nurse realizes these findings are most likely a direct result of which process?

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