NUR 113 EXAM 1 HIGH-YIELD PATIENT CARE,
SAFETY, AND BASIC CLINICAL SKILLS
SUMMARY 2026
◉ What indicates respiratory acidosis in ABG results?
Answer: Low pH < 7.35 and elevated CO2 levels PaCO2 > 45.
◉ What is the normal range for PaO2?
Answer: 80-100 mmHg.
◉ What does a PaO2 below 80 indicate?
Answer: Hypoxemia.
◉ What is the normal range for oxygen saturation (SaO2)?
Answer: 95-100%.
◉ What does the acronym R*O*M*E stand for in ABG interpretation?
Answer: Respiratory Opposite / Metabolic Equal.
◉ What is the primary cause of respiratory acidosis?
Answer: Altered ventilation leading to CO2 retention.
,◉ List two causes of respiratory acidosis.
Answer: CNS depression and hypoventilation.
◉ What nursing interventions are important for respiratory
acidosis?
Answer: Maintain patent airway, monitor ABGs, and provide
supplemental oxygen.
◉ What characterizes respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Increased alveolar ventilation leading to decreased CO2.
◉ What pH level indicates respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: pH > 7.45.
◉ What are common causes of respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Anxiety, fever, and hyperventilation.
◉ What is the treatment for respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Discontinuation of the causative agent and oxygen therapy.
◉ What defines metabolic acidosis?
,Answer: Increased accumulation of metabolic acids and decreased
bicarbonate.
◉ What are two causes of metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Renal failure and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
◉ What is the treatment for metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Sodium bicarbonate IV and parenteral fluid replacement.
◉ What characterizes metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: Increased loss of acid or gain of bicarbonate.
◉ What are common causes of metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: Vomiting and excessive use of bicarbonate.
◉ What is the pH level indicating metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: pH > 7.45 and HCO3 > 26.
◉ What clinical manifestations are associated with respiratory
acidosis?
Answer: Hypoventilation, confusion, and decreased level of
consciousness.
, ◉ What clinical manifestations are associated with metabolic
acidosis?
Answer: Confusion, lethargy, and Kussmaul's respirations.
◉ What is the significance of the HCO3 level in metabolic acidosis?
Answer: HCO3 < 22 indicates metabolic acidosis.
◉ What is the significance of the HCO3 level in metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: HCO3 > 26 indicates metabolic alkalosis.
◉ What is the role of potassium in metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Potassium moves from ICF to ECF in exchange for hydrogen
ions.
◉ What is the role of potassium in metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: Potassium moves into cells in exchange for hydrogen ions,
resulting in hypokalemia.
◉ What ABG results would indicate respiratory acidosis?
Answer: pH < 7.35, PaCO2 > 45, and normal HCO3.
SAFETY, AND BASIC CLINICAL SKILLS
SUMMARY 2026
◉ What indicates respiratory acidosis in ABG results?
Answer: Low pH < 7.35 and elevated CO2 levels PaCO2 > 45.
◉ What is the normal range for PaO2?
Answer: 80-100 mmHg.
◉ What does a PaO2 below 80 indicate?
Answer: Hypoxemia.
◉ What is the normal range for oxygen saturation (SaO2)?
Answer: 95-100%.
◉ What does the acronym R*O*M*E stand for in ABG interpretation?
Answer: Respiratory Opposite / Metabolic Equal.
◉ What is the primary cause of respiratory acidosis?
Answer: Altered ventilation leading to CO2 retention.
,◉ List two causes of respiratory acidosis.
Answer: CNS depression and hypoventilation.
◉ What nursing interventions are important for respiratory
acidosis?
Answer: Maintain patent airway, monitor ABGs, and provide
supplemental oxygen.
◉ What characterizes respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Increased alveolar ventilation leading to decreased CO2.
◉ What pH level indicates respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: pH > 7.45.
◉ What are common causes of respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Anxiety, fever, and hyperventilation.
◉ What is the treatment for respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Discontinuation of the causative agent and oxygen therapy.
◉ What defines metabolic acidosis?
,Answer: Increased accumulation of metabolic acids and decreased
bicarbonate.
◉ What are two causes of metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Renal failure and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
◉ What is the treatment for metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Sodium bicarbonate IV and parenteral fluid replacement.
◉ What characterizes metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: Increased loss of acid or gain of bicarbonate.
◉ What are common causes of metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: Vomiting and excessive use of bicarbonate.
◉ What is the pH level indicating metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: pH > 7.45 and HCO3 > 26.
◉ What clinical manifestations are associated with respiratory
acidosis?
Answer: Hypoventilation, confusion, and decreased level of
consciousness.
, ◉ What clinical manifestations are associated with metabolic
acidosis?
Answer: Confusion, lethargy, and Kussmaul's respirations.
◉ What is the significance of the HCO3 level in metabolic acidosis?
Answer: HCO3 < 22 indicates metabolic acidosis.
◉ What is the significance of the HCO3 level in metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: HCO3 > 26 indicates metabolic alkalosis.
◉ What is the role of potassium in metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Potassium moves from ICF to ECF in exchange for hydrogen
ions.
◉ What is the role of potassium in metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: Potassium moves into cells in exchange for hydrogen ions,
resulting in hypokalemia.
◉ What ABG results would indicate respiratory acidosis?
Answer: pH < 7.35, PaCO2 > 45, and normal HCO3.
