NU 455 Exam 1 Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
Type I Respiratory Failure Hypoxia defined as - Answers O2 less than 50
Type I Respiratory Failure Hypoxia Assessment Findings - Answers increased pulse (try to
circulate RBC), increased respiratory rate, restless, anxious, diaphoresis, agitated (decreased O2
to brain) late: cyanosis, mental status changes
Type I Respiratory Failure Hypoxia is found in - Answers pneumonia, ARDS, pneumothorax, PE,
pulmonary edema, drowning, bleeding, tumor, trauma
Type II Respiratory Failure Hypercarbia is defined as - Answers CO2 more than 50
Type II Respiratory Failure Hypercarbia assessment findings - Answers lethargic, decreased
respiratory rate, difficulty focusing, tired, less responsive, decreased respiratory drive (neuro
symptoms of increased CO2)
Type II Respiratory Failure Hypercarbia found in - Answers CNS depression, drug overdose,
asthma, COPD, chest wall abnormalities/trauma, neuromuscular disease (Myasthenia Gravis,
Guilian-Barre)
normal pH level - Answers 7.35-7.45
normal PaO2 level - Answers 80-100
normal spO2 - Answers over 92%
normal paCO2 - Answers 35-45
normal HCO3 - Answers 22-26
respiratory acidosis is defined as - Answers carbon dioxide excess; pH under 7.35 and pCO2
over 45
respiratory acidosis found in - Answers COPD, pneumonia, ARDS
respiratory acidosis nursing interventions - Answers - Treat underlying cause (PE, aspiration,
atelectasis, pneumothorax, overdose of sedatives)
- Improving ventilation
- Adequate hydration to help secrete mucus
- Semi fowlers position
- Raise PaCO2 slowly or else the kidneys will not be able to get rid of the bicarb in time so now
the patient will be in alkalosis and have a seizure
, - Meds
-- Bronchodilators reduce bronchospasm
-- Antibiotics for respiratory infections
-- Thrombolytics or anticoagulants for PEing
respiratory acidosis clinical manifestations - Answers headache, decreased LOC,
hypoventilation (cause of problem), cardiac dysrhythmias, if severe: hypotension
respiratory alkalosis is defined as - Answers carbon dioxide deficit; pH over 7.45 and CO2 under
35
respiratory alkalosis nursing interventions - Answers - Treat underlying cause
- If anxiety instruct patient to breathe slowly or into a bag, it will help accumulate CO2,
antianxiety if extreme
- If wrong vent setting, decrease respiration rate
respiratory alkalosis found in - Answers extreme anxiety, hypoxemia, early phase of salicylate
intoxication, gram-negative bacteria, wrong vent settings
respiratory alkalosis clinical manifestations - Answers - headache, tingling, dizziness
- hyperventilation (cause of problem), Excitation and belligerence, lightheadedness, unusual
behaviors, followed by decreased LOC if severe, Periorbital and digital paresthesia, carpopedal
spasm, tetany, Diaphoresis, Cardiac dysrhythmias
metabolic acidosis is defined as - Answers base deficit; pH under 7.35 and HCO3 over 22
metabolic acidosis nursing interventions - Answers - Treat underlying cause
-- If high chloride the aim is to eliminate the source
- Bicarbonate is given unless in cardiac arrest since it can cause paradoxical intracellular
acidosis
- Monitor potassium closely because patients could go from hyperkalemia to hypokalemia with
treatment
metabolic acidosis found in - Answers DKA, lactic acidosis, renal failure
metabolic acidosis clinical manifestations - Answers decreased LOC, hyperventilation
(compensatory mechanism), abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, cardiac dysrhythmia
metabolic alkalosis is defined as - Answers base excess; pH over7.45 and HCO3 under 26
Type I Respiratory Failure Hypoxia defined as - Answers O2 less than 50
Type I Respiratory Failure Hypoxia Assessment Findings - Answers increased pulse (try to
circulate RBC), increased respiratory rate, restless, anxious, diaphoresis, agitated (decreased O2
to brain) late: cyanosis, mental status changes
Type I Respiratory Failure Hypoxia is found in - Answers pneumonia, ARDS, pneumothorax, PE,
pulmonary edema, drowning, bleeding, tumor, trauma
Type II Respiratory Failure Hypercarbia is defined as - Answers CO2 more than 50
Type II Respiratory Failure Hypercarbia assessment findings - Answers lethargic, decreased
respiratory rate, difficulty focusing, tired, less responsive, decreased respiratory drive (neuro
symptoms of increased CO2)
Type II Respiratory Failure Hypercarbia found in - Answers CNS depression, drug overdose,
asthma, COPD, chest wall abnormalities/trauma, neuromuscular disease (Myasthenia Gravis,
Guilian-Barre)
normal pH level - Answers 7.35-7.45
normal PaO2 level - Answers 80-100
normal spO2 - Answers over 92%
normal paCO2 - Answers 35-45
normal HCO3 - Answers 22-26
respiratory acidosis is defined as - Answers carbon dioxide excess; pH under 7.35 and pCO2
over 45
respiratory acidosis found in - Answers COPD, pneumonia, ARDS
respiratory acidosis nursing interventions - Answers - Treat underlying cause (PE, aspiration,
atelectasis, pneumothorax, overdose of sedatives)
- Improving ventilation
- Adequate hydration to help secrete mucus
- Semi fowlers position
- Raise PaCO2 slowly or else the kidneys will not be able to get rid of the bicarb in time so now
the patient will be in alkalosis and have a seizure
, - Meds
-- Bronchodilators reduce bronchospasm
-- Antibiotics for respiratory infections
-- Thrombolytics or anticoagulants for PEing
respiratory acidosis clinical manifestations - Answers headache, decreased LOC,
hypoventilation (cause of problem), cardiac dysrhythmias, if severe: hypotension
respiratory alkalosis is defined as - Answers carbon dioxide deficit; pH over 7.45 and CO2 under
35
respiratory alkalosis nursing interventions - Answers - Treat underlying cause
- If anxiety instruct patient to breathe slowly or into a bag, it will help accumulate CO2,
antianxiety if extreme
- If wrong vent setting, decrease respiration rate
respiratory alkalosis found in - Answers extreme anxiety, hypoxemia, early phase of salicylate
intoxication, gram-negative bacteria, wrong vent settings
respiratory alkalosis clinical manifestations - Answers - headache, tingling, dizziness
- hyperventilation (cause of problem), Excitation and belligerence, lightheadedness, unusual
behaviors, followed by decreased LOC if severe, Periorbital and digital paresthesia, carpopedal
spasm, tetany, Diaphoresis, Cardiac dysrhythmias
metabolic acidosis is defined as - Answers base deficit; pH under 7.35 and HCO3 over 22
metabolic acidosis nursing interventions - Answers - Treat underlying cause
-- If high chloride the aim is to eliminate the source
- Bicarbonate is given unless in cardiac arrest since it can cause paradoxical intracellular
acidosis
- Monitor potassium closely because patients could go from hyperkalemia to hypokalemia with
treatment
metabolic acidosis found in - Answers DKA, lactic acidosis, renal failure
metabolic acidosis clinical manifestations - Answers decreased LOC, hyperventilation
(compensatory mechanism), abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, cardiac dysrhythmia
metabolic alkalosis is defined as - Answers base excess; pH over7.45 and HCO3 under 26
