NURS 546 Exam questions Answered 2025 Update
Q1: Which of the following is the body’s first line of defense against an acid-base
imbalance?
• a) Renal buffers
• b) Respiratory buffers
• c) Chemical buffers
• d) Kidney function
A1: c) Chemical buffers
Explanation: Chemical buffers, including bicarbonate, phosphate, and protein
buffers, are the body’s first line of defense against acid-base imbalances, acting
immediately to neutralize acids or bases.
Q2: What is the primary function of the kidneys in regulating acid-base balance?
• a) Excrete bicarbonate ions
• b) Excrete hydrogen ions and reabsorb bicarbonate
• c) Increase carbon dioxide production
• d) Buffer intracellular fluid
A2: b) Excrete hydrogen ions and reabsorb bicarbonate
Explanation: The kidneys regulate acid-base balance by excreting hydrogen ions
and reabsorbing bicarbonate ions, maintaining pH homeostasis over a longer
period.
Q3: What is the primary compensation mechanism for metabolic acidosis?
• a) Increased heart rate
• b) Increased respiratory rate
• c) Decreased urinary output
• d) Increased renal bicarbonate excretion
A3: b) Increased respiratory rate
,NURS 546 Exam questions Answered 2025 Update
Explanation: In metabolic acidosis, the body compensates by increasing the
respiratory rate to expel CO2, which helps raise pH.
Q4: Which of the following is most associated with respiratory alkalosis?
• a) Hyperventilation
• b) Hypoventilation
• c) Renal failure
• d) Diabetic ketoacidosis
A4: a) Hyperventilation
Explanation: Respiratory alkalosis often occurs from hyperventilation, causing
excessive CO2 loss, which results in a rise in blood pH.
Q5: What is the most common cause of metabolic alkalosis?
• a) Excessive vomiting
• b) Renal failure
• c) Diabetic ketoacidosis
• d) Hyperventilation
A5: a) Excessive vomiting
Explanation: Vomiting results in the loss of gastric acid, which leads to an increase
in blood bicarbonate, causing metabolic alkalosis.
Q6: What does the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation measure?
• a) Blood glucose levels
• b) Blood pH and bicarbonate concentration
• c) Blood oxygen saturation
• d) Blood urea nitrogen
, NURS 546 Exam questions Answered 2025 Update
A6: b) Blood pH and bicarbonate concentration
Explanation: The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is used to understand the
relationship between pH, bicarbonate concentration, and CO2, which are key to
acid-base balance.
Q7: A patient has a low pH, high CO2 levels, and decreased respiratory rate. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
• a) Respiratory acidosis
• b) Respiratory alkalosis
• c) Metabolic acidosis
• d) Metabolic alkalosis
A7: a) Respiratory acidosis
Explanation: Respiratory acidosis is caused by hypoventilation, leading to an
accumulation of CO2, which lowers pH.
Q8: What would the body likely do to compensate for respiratory acidosis?
• a) Increase renal bicarbonate reabsorption
• b) Increase respiratory rate
• c) Decrease urine output
• d) Increase sodium retention
A8: a) Increase renal bicarbonate reabsorption
Explanation: In response to respiratory acidosis, the kidneys compensate by
reabsorbing more bicarbonate to help neutralize the increased acidity.
Q9: What does an elevated anion gap typically indicate?
• a) Respiratory acidosis
Q1: Which of the following is the body’s first line of defense against an acid-base
imbalance?
• a) Renal buffers
• b) Respiratory buffers
• c) Chemical buffers
• d) Kidney function
A1: c) Chemical buffers
Explanation: Chemical buffers, including bicarbonate, phosphate, and protein
buffers, are the body’s first line of defense against acid-base imbalances, acting
immediately to neutralize acids or bases.
Q2: What is the primary function of the kidneys in regulating acid-base balance?
• a) Excrete bicarbonate ions
• b) Excrete hydrogen ions and reabsorb bicarbonate
• c) Increase carbon dioxide production
• d) Buffer intracellular fluid
A2: b) Excrete hydrogen ions and reabsorb bicarbonate
Explanation: The kidneys regulate acid-base balance by excreting hydrogen ions
and reabsorbing bicarbonate ions, maintaining pH homeostasis over a longer
period.
Q3: What is the primary compensation mechanism for metabolic acidosis?
• a) Increased heart rate
• b) Increased respiratory rate
• c) Decreased urinary output
• d) Increased renal bicarbonate excretion
A3: b) Increased respiratory rate
,NURS 546 Exam questions Answered 2025 Update
Explanation: In metabolic acidosis, the body compensates by increasing the
respiratory rate to expel CO2, which helps raise pH.
Q4: Which of the following is most associated with respiratory alkalosis?
• a) Hyperventilation
• b) Hypoventilation
• c) Renal failure
• d) Diabetic ketoacidosis
A4: a) Hyperventilation
Explanation: Respiratory alkalosis often occurs from hyperventilation, causing
excessive CO2 loss, which results in a rise in blood pH.
Q5: What is the most common cause of metabolic alkalosis?
• a) Excessive vomiting
• b) Renal failure
• c) Diabetic ketoacidosis
• d) Hyperventilation
A5: a) Excessive vomiting
Explanation: Vomiting results in the loss of gastric acid, which leads to an increase
in blood bicarbonate, causing metabolic alkalosis.
Q6: What does the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation measure?
• a) Blood glucose levels
• b) Blood pH and bicarbonate concentration
• c) Blood oxygen saturation
• d) Blood urea nitrogen
, NURS 546 Exam questions Answered 2025 Update
A6: b) Blood pH and bicarbonate concentration
Explanation: The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is used to understand the
relationship between pH, bicarbonate concentration, and CO2, which are key to
acid-base balance.
Q7: A patient has a low pH, high CO2 levels, and decreased respiratory rate. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
• a) Respiratory acidosis
• b) Respiratory alkalosis
• c) Metabolic acidosis
• d) Metabolic alkalosis
A7: a) Respiratory acidosis
Explanation: Respiratory acidosis is caused by hypoventilation, leading to an
accumulation of CO2, which lowers pH.
Q8: What would the body likely do to compensate for respiratory acidosis?
• a) Increase renal bicarbonate reabsorption
• b) Increase respiratory rate
• c) Decrease urine output
• d) Increase sodium retention
A8: a) Increase renal bicarbonate reabsorption
Explanation: In response to respiratory acidosis, the kidneys compensate by
reabsorbing more bicarbonate to help neutralize the increased acidity.
Q9: What does an elevated anion gap typically indicate?
• a) Respiratory acidosis
