Acid Base PrepU Questions With Complete Solutions
A child who has type 1 diabetes mellitus is brought to the
emergency department and diagnosed with diabetic
ketoacidosis. What treatment would the nurse expect to
administer? Correct Answers Insulin for diabetic ketoacidosis
is given intravenously. Only regular insulin can be administered
by this route.
A client admitted with acute anxiety has the following arterial
blood gas (ABG) values: pH, 7.55; partial pressure of arterial
oxygen (PaO2), 90 mm Hg; partial pressure of arterial carbon
dioxide (PaCO2), 27 mm Hg; and bicarbonate (HCO3-), 24
mEq/L. Based on these values, the nurse suspects Correct
Answers respiratory alkalosis.
A client comes to the emergency department with status
asthmaticus. His respiratory rate is 48 breaths/minute, and he is
wheezing. An arterial blood gas analysis reveals a pH of 7.52, a
partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 30 mm
Hg, PaO2 of 70 mm Hg, and bicarbonate (HCO3??') of 26
mEq/L. What disorder is indicated by these findings? Correct
Answers respiratory alkalosis; Respiratory alkalosis results
from alveolar hyperventilation. It's marked by a decrease in
PaCO2 to less than 35 mm Hg and an increase in blood pH over
7.45. Metabolic acidosis is marked by a decrease in HCO3? to
less than 22 mEq/L, and a decrease in blood pH to less than
7.35. In respiratory acidosis, the pH is less than 7.35 and the
PaCO2 is greater than 45 mm Hg. In metabolic alkalosis, the
HCO3? is greater than 26 mEq/L and the pH is greater than
7.45.
, A client experiences burning muscle pain at the peak of high
intensity physical training for an athletic competition. What is
the best explanation for the cause of this occurrence? Correct
Answers Anaerobic glycolysis creates pyruvate, which converts
to lactic acid.
A client has a respiratory rate of 38 breaths/min. What effect
does breathing faster have on arterial pH level? Correct
Answers Increases arterial pH
A client has meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Fetal scalp
sampling indicates a blood pH of 7.12; fetal bradycardia is
present. Based on these findings, the nurse should take which
action? Correct Answers Prepare for cesarean birth.
A client hospitalized for treatment of a pulmonary embolism
develops respiratory alkalosis. Which clinical findings
commonly accompany respiratory alkalosis? Correct Answers
light-headedness or paresthesia
A client is admitted to the health care center with abdominal
pain, nausea, and vomiting. The medical reports indicate a
history of type 1 diabetes. The nurse suspects the client's
symptoms to be those of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Which
action will help the nurse confirm the diagnosis? Correct
Answers Assess the client's breath odor
A client is admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of intractable
vomiting for 3 days. What acid-base imbalance related to the
A child who has type 1 diabetes mellitus is brought to the
emergency department and diagnosed with diabetic
ketoacidosis. What treatment would the nurse expect to
administer? Correct Answers Insulin for diabetic ketoacidosis
is given intravenously. Only regular insulin can be administered
by this route.
A client admitted with acute anxiety has the following arterial
blood gas (ABG) values: pH, 7.55; partial pressure of arterial
oxygen (PaO2), 90 mm Hg; partial pressure of arterial carbon
dioxide (PaCO2), 27 mm Hg; and bicarbonate (HCO3-), 24
mEq/L. Based on these values, the nurse suspects Correct
Answers respiratory alkalosis.
A client comes to the emergency department with status
asthmaticus. His respiratory rate is 48 breaths/minute, and he is
wheezing. An arterial blood gas analysis reveals a pH of 7.52, a
partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 30 mm
Hg, PaO2 of 70 mm Hg, and bicarbonate (HCO3??') of 26
mEq/L. What disorder is indicated by these findings? Correct
Answers respiratory alkalosis; Respiratory alkalosis results
from alveolar hyperventilation. It's marked by a decrease in
PaCO2 to less than 35 mm Hg and an increase in blood pH over
7.45. Metabolic acidosis is marked by a decrease in HCO3? to
less than 22 mEq/L, and a decrease in blood pH to less than
7.35. In respiratory acidosis, the pH is less than 7.35 and the
PaCO2 is greater than 45 mm Hg. In metabolic alkalosis, the
HCO3? is greater than 26 mEq/L and the pH is greater than
7.45.
, A client experiences burning muscle pain at the peak of high
intensity physical training for an athletic competition. What is
the best explanation for the cause of this occurrence? Correct
Answers Anaerobic glycolysis creates pyruvate, which converts
to lactic acid.
A client has a respiratory rate of 38 breaths/min. What effect
does breathing faster have on arterial pH level? Correct
Answers Increases arterial pH
A client has meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Fetal scalp
sampling indicates a blood pH of 7.12; fetal bradycardia is
present. Based on these findings, the nurse should take which
action? Correct Answers Prepare for cesarean birth.
A client hospitalized for treatment of a pulmonary embolism
develops respiratory alkalosis. Which clinical findings
commonly accompany respiratory alkalosis? Correct Answers
light-headedness or paresthesia
A client is admitted to the health care center with abdominal
pain, nausea, and vomiting. The medical reports indicate a
history of type 1 diabetes. The nurse suspects the client's
symptoms to be those of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Which
action will help the nurse confirm the diagnosis? Correct
Answers Assess the client's breath odor
A client is admitted to the unit with a diagnosis of intractable
vomiting for 3 days. What acid-base imbalance related to the
