Hondros NUR 205 Exam 3 – Updated
2026/2027 Study Guide & Practice
Questions | Nursing Review
How do the kidneys compensate? - ANSWER -Excreting excess acid and bicarb
(HCO3)
OR
Retaining hydrogen and bicarb (HCO3)
How do the lungs compensate? - ANSWER -Hyperventilating = decreased CO2 =
alkalosis
Hypoventilating = increased CO2 = Acidosis
Respiratory Acidosis patho - ANSWER -*Lung problem, kidneys compensate*
-The lungs are retaining too much CO2
-The kidneys excrete hydrogen and retain bicarb
Respiratory Acidosis causes - ANSWER -Retaining CO2 "depress" breathing
*D*rugs (opioids and sedatives
*E*dema (fluid in lungs)
*P*neumonia (excess mucus in the lungs)
*R*espiratory center of brain is damaged
*E*mboli (pulmonary emboli)
*S*pasms of the bronchial (asthma)
*S*ac elasticity damage (COPD and emphysema)
*all cause impaired gas exchange*
Respiratory Acidosis interventions - ANSWER -Administer O2
Semi-fowlers position
Turn, cough, deep breath
Increase fluids
Monitor potassium levels
, Respiratory Acidosis Signs and Symptoms - ANSWER -Hypoxia
Decreased blood pressure
Decreased respiration rate
Increased heart rate
Confusion
Headache
Sleepy/coma
Respiratory Alkalosis Patho - ANSWER --The lungs are losing too much CO2
-The kidney excrete bicarb (HCO3) & retain hydrogen
Respiratory Alkalosis Causes - ANSWER -*Losing CO2*
Tachypnea
Increased temperature
Aspirin toxicity
Hyperventilation
Respiratory Alkalosis Signs and symptoms - ANSWER -Increased respiratory
rate
Increased heart rate
Confused and tired
Positive Chvostek sign--twitching of facial muscles when tapping the facial nerve
Respiratory Alkalosis Interventions - ANSWER -Rebreathing into a paper bag
Give anti anxiety medications to decrease breathing
Monitor potassium and calcium levels
Metabolic Acidosis Patho - ANSWER -*Kidney problem, lungs compensate*
-Too much hydrogen, too little bicarb (HCO3)
-The lungs will blow off CO2
Metabolic Acidosis causes - ANSWER -DKA
Acute/chronic kidney injury
Malnutrition
Severe diarrhea
, Metabolic Acidosis Signs and Symptoms - ANSWER -Kussmauls breathing -
deep/rapid
Hyperkalemia-muscle weakness, twitching
Decreased blood pressure
Confusion
Metabolic Acidosis Interventions - ANSWER -Monitor intake and output
Administer IV to increase bases, and decrease acids
Seizure precaution
Monitor potassium levels
Metabolic Alkalosis Patho - ANSWER -*Kidney problem, lungs compensate*
Too much bicarb (HCO3), too little hydrogen
The lungs will retain CO2
Metabolic Alkalosis Causes - ANSWER -Too many acids
Diuretics
Excess vomiting
Hyperaldosteronism
Metabolic Alkalosis Signs and Symptoms - ANSWER -Hypoventilation
Low potassium - muscle cramp, weakness, vomiting
Metabolic Alkalosis Interventions - ANSWER -Monitor potassium and calcium
levels
Administer IV fluids to help kidney get rid of bicarb
Replace potassium
Give anitemetics for vomiting
Watch for signs of respiratory distress
Intracellular fluid - ANSWER -Fluid within cells--70%
Extracellular fluid - ANSWER -Fluid outside of the cell--30%
interstitial fluid - ANSWER -Fluid between cells--22%
Intravascular fluid - ANSWER -Fluid inside blood vessels--6%
Low fluid volume leads to - ANSWER -Dehydration
2026/2027 Study Guide & Practice
Questions | Nursing Review
How do the kidneys compensate? - ANSWER -Excreting excess acid and bicarb
(HCO3)
OR
Retaining hydrogen and bicarb (HCO3)
How do the lungs compensate? - ANSWER -Hyperventilating = decreased CO2 =
alkalosis
Hypoventilating = increased CO2 = Acidosis
Respiratory Acidosis patho - ANSWER -*Lung problem, kidneys compensate*
-The lungs are retaining too much CO2
-The kidneys excrete hydrogen and retain bicarb
Respiratory Acidosis causes - ANSWER -Retaining CO2 "depress" breathing
*D*rugs (opioids and sedatives
*E*dema (fluid in lungs)
*P*neumonia (excess mucus in the lungs)
*R*espiratory center of brain is damaged
*E*mboli (pulmonary emboli)
*S*pasms of the bronchial (asthma)
*S*ac elasticity damage (COPD and emphysema)
*all cause impaired gas exchange*
Respiratory Acidosis interventions - ANSWER -Administer O2
Semi-fowlers position
Turn, cough, deep breath
Increase fluids
Monitor potassium levels
, Respiratory Acidosis Signs and Symptoms - ANSWER -Hypoxia
Decreased blood pressure
Decreased respiration rate
Increased heart rate
Confusion
Headache
Sleepy/coma
Respiratory Alkalosis Patho - ANSWER --The lungs are losing too much CO2
-The kidney excrete bicarb (HCO3) & retain hydrogen
Respiratory Alkalosis Causes - ANSWER -*Losing CO2*
Tachypnea
Increased temperature
Aspirin toxicity
Hyperventilation
Respiratory Alkalosis Signs and symptoms - ANSWER -Increased respiratory
rate
Increased heart rate
Confused and tired
Positive Chvostek sign--twitching of facial muscles when tapping the facial nerve
Respiratory Alkalosis Interventions - ANSWER -Rebreathing into a paper bag
Give anti anxiety medications to decrease breathing
Monitor potassium and calcium levels
Metabolic Acidosis Patho - ANSWER -*Kidney problem, lungs compensate*
-Too much hydrogen, too little bicarb (HCO3)
-The lungs will blow off CO2
Metabolic Acidosis causes - ANSWER -DKA
Acute/chronic kidney injury
Malnutrition
Severe diarrhea
, Metabolic Acidosis Signs and Symptoms - ANSWER -Kussmauls breathing -
deep/rapid
Hyperkalemia-muscle weakness, twitching
Decreased blood pressure
Confusion
Metabolic Acidosis Interventions - ANSWER -Monitor intake and output
Administer IV to increase bases, and decrease acids
Seizure precaution
Monitor potassium levels
Metabolic Alkalosis Patho - ANSWER -*Kidney problem, lungs compensate*
Too much bicarb (HCO3), too little hydrogen
The lungs will retain CO2
Metabolic Alkalosis Causes - ANSWER -Too many acids
Diuretics
Excess vomiting
Hyperaldosteronism
Metabolic Alkalosis Signs and Symptoms - ANSWER -Hypoventilation
Low potassium - muscle cramp, weakness, vomiting
Metabolic Alkalosis Interventions - ANSWER -Monitor potassium and calcium
levels
Administer IV fluids to help kidney get rid of bicarb
Replace potassium
Give anitemetics for vomiting
Watch for signs of respiratory distress
Intracellular fluid - ANSWER -Fluid within cells--70%
Extracellular fluid - ANSWER -Fluid outside of the cell--30%
interstitial fluid - ANSWER -Fluid between cells--22%
Intravascular fluid - ANSWER -Fluid inside blood vessels--6%
Low fluid volume leads to - ANSWER -Dehydration
