NSG 223 Med surg 2 Exam 2 |
Questions and Answers | 2026
Updated | 100% Correct. GRADED
A+
1. Question: What are the causes of respiratory acidosis?
Answer: Hypoventilation (e.g., emphysema, sleep apnea, cardiac arrest,
sedatives) .
2. Question: What are the symptoms of respiratory acidosis?
Answer: Low pH, high PaCO2; suddenly increased heart rate, respirations,
and BP; shallow breaths; disorientation; hyperkalemia; hypercalcemia .
3. Question: What is the treatment for respiratory acidosis?
Answer: Improve ventilation, apply oxygen, and place the patient in a semi-
Fowler position .
4. Question: What are the causes of respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Hyperventilation, anxiety, and pain .
5. Question: What are the symptoms of respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: High pH, low PaCO2; light-headedness; hypokalemia; fast
respirations; seizures; tingling in the extremities .
6. Question: What is the treatment for respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Correct the underlying cause. Have the patient breathe into a
paper bag or use a rebreather mask to retain CO2 .
7. Question: What are the causes of metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Diabetes (diabetic ketoacidosis) and diarrhea .
,8. Question: What are the signs of metabolic acidosis?
Answer: The patient will breathe faster and deeper (Kussmaul respirations)
to expel CO2 .
9. Question: What is the anion gap used for?
Answer: It is used to figure out what is causing metabolic acidosis .
10. Question: How do the kidneys regulate pH?
Answer: By excreting or reabsorbing H+ and HCO3. If the body is acidotic,
the kidneys excrete H+ and keep HCO3. If alkalotic, they excrete HCO3 and
keep H+ .
11. Question: What is the normal range for pH?
Answer: 7.35 - 7.45 .
12. Question: What is the normal range for PaCO2?
Answer: 35 - 45 .
13. Question: What is the normal range for HCO3?
Answer: 22 - 26 .
14. Question: What does pH depend on?
Answer: The concentration of hydrogen ions (more H+ = more acidic,
lower pH; less H+ = less acidic, higher pH) .
15. Question: What are the buffer systems within the body?
Answer: Chemical buffers (e.g., NaHCO3) work within seconds; the
respiratory system (regulating CO2) works within minutes; the metabolic
system (regulating HCO3) may take days .
🫁 Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and ARDS
These questions cover the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and
treatment of PE and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
16. Question: What is the pathophysiology of a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
Answer: An occlusion in the pulmonary artery, normally caused by a blood
, clot (from a DVT), fat embolism, or air, causing necrosis in the affected
area .
17. Question: What are the signs and symptoms of a pulmonary
embolism?
Answer: Dyspnea (sudden shortness of breath), tachycardia, bloody
sputum, cough, and chest pain .
18. Question: What are some diagnostic tests for PE?
Answer: D-dimer, MDCTA (multidetector-row computed tomography
angiography), CT scan, and V/Q scan .
19. Question: How is an unstable PE treated?
Answer: Begin emergency procedures to support respiratory and
cardiovascular function and start thrombolytic therapy to dissolve the
embolism .
20. Question: How is a stable PE treated?
Answer: Immediate anticoagulation (e.g., Heparin, Warfarin) to prevent
recurrence .
21. Question: What are key nursing interventions for preventing PE in
bedridden patients?
Answer: Active and passive leg exercises, leg pumps, early ambulation, use
of TED hose/SCDs (sequential compression devices), and avoiding crossing
the legs .
22. Question: What does ARDS initially resemble?
Answer: Severe pulmonary edema .
23. Question: What are the acute phase clinical manifestations of ARDS?
Answer: Rapid onset of severe dyspnea occurring 72 hours after a
precipitating event, and arterial hypoxemia that doesn't improve with
supplemental oxygen .
24. Question: What is PEEP (Positive End-Expiratory Pressure) and what is
its purpose?
Questions and Answers | 2026
Updated | 100% Correct. GRADED
A+
1. Question: What are the causes of respiratory acidosis?
Answer: Hypoventilation (e.g., emphysema, sleep apnea, cardiac arrest,
sedatives) .
2. Question: What are the symptoms of respiratory acidosis?
Answer: Low pH, high PaCO2; suddenly increased heart rate, respirations,
and BP; shallow breaths; disorientation; hyperkalemia; hypercalcemia .
3. Question: What is the treatment for respiratory acidosis?
Answer: Improve ventilation, apply oxygen, and place the patient in a semi-
Fowler position .
4. Question: What are the causes of respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Hyperventilation, anxiety, and pain .
5. Question: What are the symptoms of respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: High pH, low PaCO2; light-headedness; hypokalemia; fast
respirations; seizures; tingling in the extremities .
6. Question: What is the treatment for respiratory alkalosis?
Answer: Correct the underlying cause. Have the patient breathe into a
paper bag or use a rebreather mask to retain CO2 .
7. Question: What are the causes of metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Diabetes (diabetic ketoacidosis) and diarrhea .
,8. Question: What are the signs of metabolic acidosis?
Answer: The patient will breathe faster and deeper (Kussmaul respirations)
to expel CO2 .
9. Question: What is the anion gap used for?
Answer: It is used to figure out what is causing metabolic acidosis .
10. Question: How do the kidneys regulate pH?
Answer: By excreting or reabsorbing H+ and HCO3. If the body is acidotic,
the kidneys excrete H+ and keep HCO3. If alkalotic, they excrete HCO3 and
keep H+ .
11. Question: What is the normal range for pH?
Answer: 7.35 - 7.45 .
12. Question: What is the normal range for PaCO2?
Answer: 35 - 45 .
13. Question: What is the normal range for HCO3?
Answer: 22 - 26 .
14. Question: What does pH depend on?
Answer: The concentration of hydrogen ions (more H+ = more acidic,
lower pH; less H+ = less acidic, higher pH) .
15. Question: What are the buffer systems within the body?
Answer: Chemical buffers (e.g., NaHCO3) work within seconds; the
respiratory system (regulating CO2) works within minutes; the metabolic
system (regulating HCO3) may take days .
🫁 Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and ARDS
These questions cover the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and
treatment of PE and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
16. Question: What is the pathophysiology of a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
Answer: An occlusion in the pulmonary artery, normally caused by a blood
, clot (from a DVT), fat embolism, or air, causing necrosis in the affected
area .
17. Question: What are the signs and symptoms of a pulmonary
embolism?
Answer: Dyspnea (sudden shortness of breath), tachycardia, bloody
sputum, cough, and chest pain .
18. Question: What are some diagnostic tests for PE?
Answer: D-dimer, MDCTA (multidetector-row computed tomography
angiography), CT scan, and V/Q scan .
19. Question: How is an unstable PE treated?
Answer: Begin emergency procedures to support respiratory and
cardiovascular function and start thrombolytic therapy to dissolve the
embolism .
20. Question: How is a stable PE treated?
Answer: Immediate anticoagulation (e.g., Heparin, Warfarin) to prevent
recurrence .
21. Question: What are key nursing interventions for preventing PE in
bedridden patients?
Answer: Active and passive leg exercises, leg pumps, early ambulation, use
of TED hose/SCDs (sequential compression devices), and avoiding crossing
the legs .
22. Question: What does ARDS initially resemble?
Answer: Severe pulmonary edema .
23. Question: What are the acute phase clinical manifestations of ARDS?
Answer: Rapid onset of severe dyspnea occurring 72 hours after a
precipitating event, and arterial hypoxemia that doesn't improve with
supplemental oxygen .
24. Question: What is PEEP (Positive End-Expiratory Pressure) and what is
its purpose?
