NUR 265 Exam 3 STUDY QUESTIONS- WELL ANSWERED SOLUTIONS

NUR 265 Exam 3 Study Questions
► What is the normal arterial blood gas (ABG) range for the partial
pressure of oxygen (PO2)?
o 80-100 mmHg
o What if it’s higher than 100? What if it’s lower than 80?
 Higher = too much oxygenation … lower = hypoxia
► What is the normal arterial blood gas (ABG) range for the partial
pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2)?
o 35-45 mmHg
o What if it’s lower than 35? What is it’s higher than 45?
 Decreased = Respiratory alkalosis … increased =
Respiratory Acidosis
► What is the normal range for the compensatory arterial blood gas
(ABG) bicarbonate (HCO3)?
o 21-28 mEq/L
o What is it’s higher than 28? What if it’s lower than 21?
 Higher = respiratory acidosis (compensation for metabolic
alkalosis) … Lower = respiratory alkalosis (compensating
for metabolic acidosis)
► What is the normal range for glucose?
o 60-100 mg/dL
► What is the range of pre-diabetes for an impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
test?
o 100-125 mg/dL
► What is the range of pre-diabetes for a 2 hour oral glucose tolerance
(IGT) test?
o 140-199 mg/dL
► What is the normal range for a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) test?
 4-6%

► What is the reference range for the electrolyte phosphorus?

o 3 – 4.5 mg/deciLiter

► What is the reference range for the electrolyte magnesium?

o 1.3 – 2.1 milli-Equivalents/Liter
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► What is the reference range for the electrolyte chloride?
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, o 98 – 106 milli-Equivalents/Liter

► What is the reference range for the electrolyte calcium?

o 9 – 10.5 mg/deciLiter

► What is the reference range for the electrolyte potassium?

o 3.5 – 5 milli-Equivalents/Liter

► What is the reference range for the electrolyte sodium?

o 136 – 145 milli-Equivalents/Liter

► What is the reference range for hemoglobin?

o 14-18 gram/deciliter

► What is the reference range for hematocrit?

o 42-52%

► What is the reference range for blood osmolarity?

o 285-295 mOsm/kg

► What are the normal levels for serum creatinine?

o 0.6-1.2

► What are the normal levels for BUN?

o 10-20

► What is the leading cause of death in head trauma patients who arrive
to the hospital?
o Increased Intracranial Pressure
► What causes increased intracranial pressure to kill someone?
o Pressure causes the medulla oblongata to herniate

o What symptoms occur when the medulla oblongata gets
compressed from intracranial pressure?

 Severe bradycardia, widening pulse pressure, elevated
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systolic pressure
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,  What is this presentation of symptoms known as?

 Cushing’s triad

► What section of the brain will experience inflammation from
intracranial pressure first?

o The frontal lobe

o What is the frontal lobe responsible for?

 (1) Level of consciousness (2) judgment (3) awareness

o What symptoms could be expected from injury to the frontal lobe
due to intracranial pressure?

 (1) Change in level of consciousness (the first sign!!!) (2)
lethargy (3) stupor (4) disorientation or alert but not
oriented (5) coma

► What are the earliest signs of increased intracranial pressure?

o Change in level of consciousness = (1) confusion (2) lethargy (3)
slurred speech (4) irritability

► If intracranial pressure is affecting the hypothalamus, how would it be
exhibited?

o Temperature would increase

► What can be done to prevent and detect intracranial pressure?

o Getting baseline vitals

► If a patient exhibits sluggish pupil dilation bilaterally, what cranial
nerve is being affected?

o Cranial nerve 3 (oculomotor)

o What does this mean is happening to the patient?

 Intracranial pressure is reaching the brainstem

► An ovoid pupil reaction has what presentation?
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o A size between normal and dilated
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o What does this mean about intracranial pressure?