NURS 205 – Final Exam Study Guide and Practice
Questions
Respiratory alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔ pH >7.45 and PaCO2 < 35 (blowing off too much acid)
Causes include hyperventilating due to PE, anxiety or fear, and mechanical ventilation
S/S: deep rapid breathing, tachycardia, HYPOKALEMIA, normal or low BP, seizures,
Numbness/tingling, lethargy/confusion, N/V, light headed
Respiratoy acidosis - correct answer ✔✔ pH <7.35 and PaCO2 > 45 (retaining too much CO2)
Causes include decrease in resp. stimuli (anesthesia or drug overdose), CODP, Pneumonia,
Atelectasis
S/S: Rapid shallow breathing, decreased BP w/ vasodilation, Dyspnea, h/a, HYPERKALEMIA,
dysrhythmias, drowsiness, dizzy, disorientated, muscle weakness, hypereflexia
Metabolic acidosis - correct answer ✔✔ pH < 7.35 and HCO3 < 22
Causes include DKA, severe diarrhea, renal failure, shock
S/S: h/a, decreased BP, HYPERKALEMIA, muscle twitching, warm/flushed skin, N/V/D, change in
LOC, kussmaul respirations (compensatory hyperventilation)
Metabolic alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔ pH > 7.45 and HCO3 > 26
, Causes include severe vomiting, excessive GI suctioning, diuretics, excessive NaHCO3 aka
sodium bicarb
S/S: restless followed by lethargy, dysrhythmias (tachy), compensatory hypoventilation,
confusion, decreased LOC, dizzy and irritable, N/V/D, tremors, muscle cramps, tingling of fingers
and toes
Cancer initiators - correct answer ✔✔ Chemical: smoking, asbestos, arsenic, nitrates, gases,
metals, hormones, DES (fake estrogen), drugs to treat other cancers
Physical: ionizing radiation, UV exposure, foreign bodues like asbestos fibers
Other: viral like hep B can cause liver cancer and Epstein barr virus (EBV) can cause lymphomas,
genetic factor, immune system failure, chronic irritation > skin cancer
Common cancers - correct answer ✔✔ Lung cancer is #1 in AA and caucasians
Breast cancer is #1 in asians
Prostate is #1 in hispanics
7 Warning signs of cancer - correct answer ✔✔ CAUTION
-Change in the bowel or bladder habits
-A sore that does not heal
-Unusual bleeding or discharge
-Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
-Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
-Obvious change in wart or mole
-Nagging cough or hoarseness
Questions
Respiratory alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔ pH >7.45 and PaCO2 < 35 (blowing off too much acid)
Causes include hyperventilating due to PE, anxiety or fear, and mechanical ventilation
S/S: deep rapid breathing, tachycardia, HYPOKALEMIA, normal or low BP, seizures,
Numbness/tingling, lethargy/confusion, N/V, light headed
Respiratoy acidosis - correct answer ✔✔ pH <7.35 and PaCO2 > 45 (retaining too much CO2)
Causes include decrease in resp. stimuli (anesthesia or drug overdose), CODP, Pneumonia,
Atelectasis
S/S: Rapid shallow breathing, decreased BP w/ vasodilation, Dyspnea, h/a, HYPERKALEMIA,
dysrhythmias, drowsiness, dizzy, disorientated, muscle weakness, hypereflexia
Metabolic acidosis - correct answer ✔✔ pH < 7.35 and HCO3 < 22
Causes include DKA, severe diarrhea, renal failure, shock
S/S: h/a, decreased BP, HYPERKALEMIA, muscle twitching, warm/flushed skin, N/V/D, change in
LOC, kussmaul respirations (compensatory hyperventilation)
Metabolic alkalosis - correct answer ✔✔ pH > 7.45 and HCO3 > 26
, Causes include severe vomiting, excessive GI suctioning, diuretics, excessive NaHCO3 aka
sodium bicarb
S/S: restless followed by lethargy, dysrhythmias (tachy), compensatory hypoventilation,
confusion, decreased LOC, dizzy and irritable, N/V/D, tremors, muscle cramps, tingling of fingers
and toes
Cancer initiators - correct answer ✔✔ Chemical: smoking, asbestos, arsenic, nitrates, gases,
metals, hormones, DES (fake estrogen), drugs to treat other cancers
Physical: ionizing radiation, UV exposure, foreign bodues like asbestos fibers
Other: viral like hep B can cause liver cancer and Epstein barr virus (EBV) can cause lymphomas,
genetic factor, immune system failure, chronic irritation > skin cancer
Common cancers - correct answer ✔✔ Lung cancer is #1 in AA and caucasians
Breast cancer is #1 in asians
Prostate is #1 in hispanics
7 Warning signs of cancer - correct answer ✔✔ CAUTION
-Change in the bowel or bladder habits
-A sore that does not heal
-Unusual bleeding or discharge
-Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
-Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
-Obvious change in wart or mole
-Nagging cough or hoarseness
