3: EAQ Fluid & Electrolytes Questions
and Correct Answers/ Latest Update /
Already Graded
The nurse is teaching a team of student nurses about acid-base
balance. Which statements by the nurse are appropriate? (Select all
that apply).
a. "The kidneys excrete all acids produced in the patient's body."
b. "Patients with obstructive lung diseases may have more acid in the
blood."
c. "Patients experience deeper respirations when the carbon dioxide
level in the blood rises."
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d. "Patients experience shallow respirations when the carbon dioxide
level in the blood rises."
e. "Patients with kidney disease have difficulty excreting metabolic
acids."
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Ans: b. "Patients with obstructive lung diseases may have more acid in
the blood."
c. "Patients experience deeper respirations when the carbon dioxide level
in the blood rises."
Rationale: Patients with obstructive lung diseases may have more acid in
their blood. This can be due to a difficulty in normal excretion of carbonic
acid. When the level of carbon dioxide in the blood rises, the
chemoreceptors are triggered quickly. The patient hyperventilates in
order to excrete the excess carbonic acid. The excretion of metabolic
acids occurs in the renal tubules of the kidneys. This is one of the major
contributing factors for difficulty in normally excreting metabolic acids.
The kidneys excrete all acids except carbonic acid. When the carbon
dioxide level in the blood rises, the chemoreceptors trigger
hyperventilation to facilitate excretion of excess carbonic acid. The
patient also experiences shallow respirations in response to decreased
levels of carbon dioxide in the blood to enable the cells to produce more
carbon dioxide and make up for the deficit.
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Which electrolyte abnormality is least likely to be caused by the use
of laxatives?
a. Hyponatremia
b. Hypokalemia
c. Hypocalcemia
d. Hypomagnesemia