what does pH tell you - Answers the expression of the balance between carbon dioxide and bicarbonate
what causes a lower pH in the body - Answers the greater the concentration of hydrogen, the more
acidic the body fluids
what causes a higher pH in the body - Answers the lower the concentration of hydrogen, the more
alkaline the body fluids
hyperventilation and hydrogen ions - Answers causes a decrease in hydrogen ions
hypoventilation and hydrogen ions - Answers causes an increase in hydrogen ions
normal pH for the blood - Answers 7.35-7.45
what causes respiratory acidosis - Answers hypoventilation
what causes hypoventilation - Answers - respiratory depression from opioids, poisons
- brain tumors, stroke, trauma
- muscle weakness, flail chest, obesity, sleep apnea
- airway obstruction
- pneumothorax
manifestations of respiratory acidosis - Answers - tachycardia (severe is bradycardia), tachypnea,
hypertension
- anxiety, irritability, confusion, coma
- ineffective, shallow, rapid breathing
- pale or cyanotic
nursing care for a patient with respiratory acidosis - Answers - oxygen therapy
- maintain patent airway
- positioning and breathing techniques
what causes respiratory alkalosis - Answers hyperventilation
what causes hyperventilation - Answers - fear, anxiety, intracerebral trauma, excessive mechanical
ventilation
- hypoxemia from asphyxiation, high altitudes, shock, pneumonia
,lab values for respiratory alkalosis - Answers PaCO2: less than 35
pH: greater than 7.45
HCO3: less than 24
lab values for respiratory acidosis - Answers PaCO2: greater than 45
pH: less than 7.35
HCO3: greater than 28
manifestations of respiratory alkalosis - Answers - tachypnea
- inability to concentrate, numbness, tingling
- tachycardia, dysrhythmias
- rapid deep respirations
nursing care for respiratory alkalosis - Answers - oxygen therapy
- anxiety reduction interventions
- rebreathing techniques
what causes metabolic acidosis - Answers - diabetic ketoacidosis
- starvation
- heavy exercise, seizure activity, hypoxia
- liver failure
- diarrhea
lab values for metabolic acidosis - Answers pH: less than 7.35
HCO3: less than 24
PaCO2: greater than 35
manifestations of metabolic acidosis - Answers - dysrhythmias
- bradycardia, weak pulses, hypotension, tachypnea
- headache, drowsiness, confusion
- rapid deep respirations (kussmaul)
, causes of metabolic alkalosis - Answers - oral ingestion of excess amount of antacids
- blood transfusions, TPN
- prolonged vomiting, NG suction
lab values for metabolic alkalosis - Answers pH: greater than 7.45
HCO3: greater than 28
PaCO2: greater than 45
manifestations of metabolic alkalosis - Answers - tachycardia, hypotensive
- atrial tachycardia
- numbness, tingling, tetany, muscle weakness, hyperreflexia, confusion
- depressed skeletal muscles resulting in ineffective breathing
how to determine the type of imbalance - Answers - look at pH first (less than 7.35 acidosis, greater than
7.45 alkalosis)
- look at PaCO2 and HCO3
a nurse is caring for a client admitted with confusion and lethargy. the client was found at home
unresponsive with an empty bottle of aspirin lying next to her bed. Vital signs reveal blood pressure
104/72, HR 116, RR 42 and deep, which of the following should the nurse expect?
A. pH 7.68
PaCo2 38
HCO3 28
B. pH 7.48
PaCO2 28
HCO3 23
C. pH 6.98
PaCO2 30
HCO3 18 - Answers C.