The nurse reviews the arterial blood gas results of an assigned client and notes the laboratory report results
pH of 7.30, [normal pH is 7.35 to 7.45]
Paco2 of 58 mm Hg, [Normal Paco2 is 35 to 45 mm Hg]
Pao2 of 80 mm Hg. [normal is 80-100]
HCO3 of 27 mEq/L (27 mmol/L). [Normal HCO3 is 22-26]
The nurse interprets that the client has which acid-base disturbance?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
The Correct Answer is A
A. Respiratory acidosis: The pH is low (indicating acidosis), and the Paco₂ is elevated, which signifies that carbon dioxide retention is causing the acidosis. This pattern indicates respiratory acidosis, as the elevated HCO₃ suggests a compensatory response.
B. Respiratory alkalosis: Respiratory alkalosis would show a high pH with a low Paco₂. This is not consistent with the client’s lab results.
C. Metabolic acidosis: Metabolic acidosis would show a low pH with a low HCO₃. In this case, the HCO₃ is slightly elevated, ruling out metabolic acidosis.
D. Metabolic alkalosis: Metabolic alkalosis would show a high pH with an elevated HCO₃, which does not match the client’s results.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Early ventricular repolarization is represented by the T wave, not the P wave.
B. The P wave represents atrial depolarization, which is the electrical activity that triggers the contraction of the atria.
C. Slow repolarization of ventricular Purkinje fibers is represented by the T wave, not the P wave.
D. Ventricular depolarization is represented by the QRS complex, not the P wave.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. To determine the heart rate from a rhythm strip, you can count the number of R-R intervals in a set time frame (typically 6 seconds) and multiply by 10 to convert to beats per minute. If the rhythm is regular, you can also use the 300 method by dividing 300 by the number of large squares between R waves. In this case, the rate is calculated to be 90 beats per minute.
B. A heart rate of 110 beats per minute would be classified as tachycardia and is not supported by the observed intervals.
C. A heart rate of 73 beats per minute would be a normal resting heart rate but does not match the calculation from the rhythm strip.
D. A heart rate of 50 beats per minute would indicate bradycardia, which is not reflected in this rhythm strip.