NUR 2243 Module 1 EAQs Questions Answered Correctly
When evaluating the laboratory results of a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis, which lab value indicates
the body has fully compensated from this acid-base imbalance? - Answers Normal pH on arterial blood
gases
What is one of the causes of acidosis? - Answers Kidney failure
Lab results for a 62-year-old patient show the following results: pH 7.48; bicarbonate 26; PaO 2 90; PaCO
2 32. These findings are consistent with which acid-base imbalance? - Answers respiratory alkalosis
To decrease the risk of acid-base imbalance, what goal must the patient with diabetes mellitus strive
for? - Answers Maintaining blood glucose level within normal limits.
How does the body compensate for a low pH? - Answers Increases respiratory rate
A patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis was treated for metabolic acidosis with intravenous (IV)
fluids and insulin. Which electrolyte imbalance does the nurse monitor for as the acid-base imbalance
resolves? - Answers Hypokalemia
Which arterial blood gas laboratory values would be seen in metabolic alkalosis? - Answers pH 7.49, HCO
3 - 32
When caring for a patient with metabolic acidosis, what must the nurse keep in mind regarding acid-
base chemistry? - Answers Fluids with lower pH have higher acidity.
A lab report for a 47-year-old patient shows the following results: pH 7.32; bicarbonate 24; PaO 2 77;
PaCO 2 48. These findings are consistent with which acid-base imbalance? - Answers Respiratory
acidosis
After a motor vehicle crash, the nurse is consoling a patient in the emergency department who is
hysterical and hyperventilating after being notified of the death of a family member. What acid-base
imbalance is this patient likely to develop? - Answers Respiratory alkalosis
A patient is admitted with severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Arterial blood gas results reveal a pH of 7.21.
What is this patient's acidosis most likely in response to? - Answers Excessive breakdown of fatty acids
When caring for a patient with kidney failure who has metabolic acidosis, which symptom does the
nurse expect as evidence of the body's compensatory effort? - Answers Rapid and deep respirations
The nurse is caring for a group of patients with acidosis. The nurse recognizes that Kussmaul respirations
are consistent with which situation? - Answers Aspirin overdose
A patient with diabetes mellitus is brought to the emergency department after vomiting for several
days. The patient has rapid, deep respirations and a urine dipstick reveals ketonuria. Which process does
the nurse suspect is occurring with this patient? - Answers Respiratory compensation for metabolic
acidosis
,Deep and rapid breaths consistent with Kussmaul respirations are found in patients with which type of
acid-base imbalance? - Answers Metabolic acidosis
Which conditions place a patient at risk for developing metabolic alkalosis? Select all that apply. -
Answers blood transfusion
nasogastric suctioning
total parenteral nutrition
What is taking place in the body when hyperventilation occurs? - Answers The central nervous system is
responding to a rise in carbon dioxide.
Which electrolyte abnormality does the nurse anticipate when reviewing laboratory data for a patient
admitted with metabolic acidosis? - Answers Hyperkalemia
The nurse is caring for a patient with metabolic alkalosis. What manifestations of metabolic alkalosis is
the nurse likely to assess? Select all that apply. - Answers numbness around the mouth
hyperactivity of deep tendon reflexes
The nurse obtains lab results for a 50-year-old patient with the following results: pH 7.24; bicarbonate
20; PaO 2 82; PaCO 2 35. These findings are consistent with which acid-base imbalance? - Answers
Metabolic acidosis
The lab values for a patient admitted for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) reveal a pH of 7.29 with a decreased PaO 2 and an elevated PaCO 2. Which initial treatment does
the nurse expect the provider to most likely order? - Answers Bronchodilator therapy
The nurse is assessing the laboratory reports of a patient with impaired kidney function. What changes
most indicate the patient has metabolic acidosis? - Answers Decrease in serum bicarbonate level
When caring for a group of patients at risk for respiratory acidosis, the nurse identifies which person as
at highest risk? - Answers Patient who smokes cigarettes
A patient admitted to the emergency department is having an acute episode of asthmatic bronchitis.
The nurse notes the pH on the most recent arterial blood gas is 7.31. What is the most likely explanation
for this finding? - Answers Acidosis in response to the excessive retention of carbon dioxide
A new nurse is caring for a postoperative patient with the following arterial blood gas (ABG) result: pH
7.30; PaCO 2 60 mm Hg; PaO 2 80 mm Hg; bicarbonate 24 mEq/L; and O 2 saturation 96%. Which of
these actions by the new graduate is indicated? - Answers Encourage the patient to use the incentive
spirometer and cough.
Which arterial blood gas result does the nurse anticipate in the care of a patient diagnosed with acute
kidney failure? - Answers pH 7.33, PaO 2 82 mm Hg, PaCO 2 35 mm Hg, HCO 3 - 19 mEq/L
, Which action does the nurse take first for the patient who is admitted to the emergency department
(ED) with a panic attack and whose blood gases indicate respiratory alkalosis? - Answers Encourage the
patient to take slow breaths.
A patient currently taking acetazolamide develops metabolic acidosis. Which nursing interventions are
appropriate for the nurse to include in the plan of care? Select all that apply. - Answers Monitoring
electrolyte levels
Administering intravenous (IV) fluids
Placing the patient on fall precautions
After successful resuscitation of cardiopulmonary arrest, the nurse views these arterial blood gases: pH
7.28; CO 2 52; HCO 3 - 16. What is the interpretation of these values? - Answers Combined respiratory
and metabolic acidosis
The trauma nurse is caring for a patient who sustained thoracic trauma with multiple rib fractures and
flail chest. Which intervention may be considered to promote gas exchange and prevent respiratory
acidosis in this patient? - Answers Ventilatory assistance
Which patient would be appropriate to assign to the new nurse working on the medical-surgical unit? -
Answers Patient with emphysema and cellulitis with a PaCO 2 level of 58 mm Hg
Which conditions and/or symptoms may be most likely responsible for this acid-base imbalance: pH
7.32, PaO 2 82 mm Hg, PaCO 2 50 mm Hg, HCO 3 - 18 mEq/L? Select all that apply. - Answers oliguria
dehydration
respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min
When caring for a patient with a pulse oximetry level of 89%, which action does the nurse take first? -
Answers Apply oxygen as prescribed.
The laboratory reports of a patient show the patient has metabolic alkalosis. What conditions may result
in metabolic alkalosis? Select all that apply. - Answers Blood transfusion
Prolonged vomiting
Nasogastric suctioning
Total parenteral nutrition
A patient in acute respiratory distress from an asthma attack becomes more confused. Respirations
remain rapid but are more shallow. The most recent blood gas results are pH 7.29, PaO 2 62 mm Hg,
PaCO 2 56 mm Hg, HCO 3 -25 mEq/L. What is the nurse's priority intervention? - Answers Call the Rapid
Response Team.
When evaluating the laboratory results of a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis, which lab value indicates
the body has fully compensated from this acid-base imbalance? - Answers Normal pH on arterial blood
gases
What is one of the causes of acidosis? - Answers Kidney failure
Lab results for a 62-year-old patient show the following results: pH 7.48; bicarbonate 26; PaO 2 90; PaCO
2 32. These findings are consistent with which acid-base imbalance? - Answers respiratory alkalosis
To decrease the risk of acid-base imbalance, what goal must the patient with diabetes mellitus strive
for? - Answers Maintaining blood glucose level within normal limits.
How does the body compensate for a low pH? - Answers Increases respiratory rate
A patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis was treated for metabolic acidosis with intravenous (IV)
fluids and insulin. Which electrolyte imbalance does the nurse monitor for as the acid-base imbalance
resolves? - Answers Hypokalemia
Which arterial blood gas laboratory values would be seen in metabolic alkalosis? - Answers pH 7.49, HCO
3 - 32
When caring for a patient with metabolic acidosis, what must the nurse keep in mind regarding acid-
base chemistry? - Answers Fluids with lower pH have higher acidity.
A lab report for a 47-year-old patient shows the following results: pH 7.32; bicarbonate 24; PaO 2 77;
PaCO 2 48. These findings are consistent with which acid-base imbalance? - Answers Respiratory
acidosis
After a motor vehicle crash, the nurse is consoling a patient in the emergency department who is
hysterical and hyperventilating after being notified of the death of a family member. What acid-base
imbalance is this patient likely to develop? - Answers Respiratory alkalosis
A patient is admitted with severe diabetic ketoacidosis. Arterial blood gas results reveal a pH of 7.21.
What is this patient's acidosis most likely in response to? - Answers Excessive breakdown of fatty acids
When caring for a patient with kidney failure who has metabolic acidosis, which symptom does the
nurse expect as evidence of the body's compensatory effort? - Answers Rapid and deep respirations
The nurse is caring for a group of patients with acidosis. The nurse recognizes that Kussmaul respirations
are consistent with which situation? - Answers Aspirin overdose
A patient with diabetes mellitus is brought to the emergency department after vomiting for several
days. The patient has rapid, deep respirations and a urine dipstick reveals ketonuria. Which process does
the nurse suspect is occurring with this patient? - Answers Respiratory compensation for metabolic
acidosis
,Deep and rapid breaths consistent with Kussmaul respirations are found in patients with which type of
acid-base imbalance? - Answers Metabolic acidosis
Which conditions place a patient at risk for developing metabolic alkalosis? Select all that apply. -
Answers blood transfusion
nasogastric suctioning
total parenteral nutrition
What is taking place in the body when hyperventilation occurs? - Answers The central nervous system is
responding to a rise in carbon dioxide.
Which electrolyte abnormality does the nurse anticipate when reviewing laboratory data for a patient
admitted with metabolic acidosis? - Answers Hyperkalemia
The nurse is caring for a patient with metabolic alkalosis. What manifestations of metabolic alkalosis is
the nurse likely to assess? Select all that apply. - Answers numbness around the mouth
hyperactivity of deep tendon reflexes
The nurse obtains lab results for a 50-year-old patient with the following results: pH 7.24; bicarbonate
20; PaO 2 82; PaCO 2 35. These findings are consistent with which acid-base imbalance? - Answers
Metabolic acidosis
The lab values for a patient admitted for an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) reveal a pH of 7.29 with a decreased PaO 2 and an elevated PaCO 2. Which initial treatment does
the nurse expect the provider to most likely order? - Answers Bronchodilator therapy
The nurse is assessing the laboratory reports of a patient with impaired kidney function. What changes
most indicate the patient has metabolic acidosis? - Answers Decrease in serum bicarbonate level
When caring for a group of patients at risk for respiratory acidosis, the nurse identifies which person as
at highest risk? - Answers Patient who smokes cigarettes
A patient admitted to the emergency department is having an acute episode of asthmatic bronchitis.
The nurse notes the pH on the most recent arterial blood gas is 7.31. What is the most likely explanation
for this finding? - Answers Acidosis in response to the excessive retention of carbon dioxide
A new nurse is caring for a postoperative patient with the following arterial blood gas (ABG) result: pH
7.30; PaCO 2 60 mm Hg; PaO 2 80 mm Hg; bicarbonate 24 mEq/L; and O 2 saturation 96%. Which of
these actions by the new graduate is indicated? - Answers Encourage the patient to use the incentive
spirometer and cough.
Which arterial blood gas result does the nurse anticipate in the care of a patient diagnosed with acute
kidney failure? - Answers pH 7.33, PaO 2 82 mm Hg, PaCO 2 35 mm Hg, HCO 3 - 19 mEq/L
, Which action does the nurse take first for the patient who is admitted to the emergency department
(ED) with a panic attack and whose blood gases indicate respiratory alkalosis? - Answers Encourage the
patient to take slow breaths.
A patient currently taking acetazolamide develops metabolic acidosis. Which nursing interventions are
appropriate for the nurse to include in the plan of care? Select all that apply. - Answers Monitoring
electrolyte levels
Administering intravenous (IV) fluids
Placing the patient on fall precautions
After successful resuscitation of cardiopulmonary arrest, the nurse views these arterial blood gases: pH
7.28; CO 2 52; HCO 3 - 16. What is the interpretation of these values? - Answers Combined respiratory
and metabolic acidosis
The trauma nurse is caring for a patient who sustained thoracic trauma with multiple rib fractures and
flail chest. Which intervention may be considered to promote gas exchange and prevent respiratory
acidosis in this patient? - Answers Ventilatory assistance
Which patient would be appropriate to assign to the new nurse working on the medical-surgical unit? -
Answers Patient with emphysema and cellulitis with a PaCO 2 level of 58 mm Hg
Which conditions and/or symptoms may be most likely responsible for this acid-base imbalance: pH
7.32, PaO 2 82 mm Hg, PaCO 2 50 mm Hg, HCO 3 - 18 mEq/L? Select all that apply. - Answers oliguria
dehydration
respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min
When caring for a patient with a pulse oximetry level of 89%, which action does the nurse take first? -
Answers Apply oxygen as prescribed.
The laboratory reports of a patient show the patient has metabolic alkalosis. What conditions may result
in metabolic alkalosis? Select all that apply. - Answers Blood transfusion
Prolonged vomiting
Nasogastric suctioning
Total parenteral nutrition
A patient in acute respiratory distress from an asthma attack becomes more confused. Respirations
remain rapid but are more shallow. The most recent blood gas results are pH 7.29, PaO 2 62 mm Hg,
PaCO 2 56 mm Hg, HCO 3 -25 mEq/L. What is the nurse's priority intervention? - Answers Call the Rapid
Response Team.
