1|Page
ATI FLUID, ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID-BASE
TARGETED EXAM [2025/26 LATEST VERSION]
A nurse is assessing a client who has a serum calcium level of 8.1 mg/dL. Which of
the following findings is the priority for the nurse to assess?
-Deep tendon reflexes
-Cardiac rhythm
-Peripheral sensation
-Bowel sounds - ANSWER Cardiac rhythm
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the nurse
should first assess the client's cardiac rhythm because this total serum calcium
level is below the expected reference range. Hypocalcemia can cause ECG
changes, bradycardia, or tachycardia.
A nurse is caring for a client who requires nasogastric suctioning. Which of the
following sets of laboratory results indicates that the client has metabolic
alkalosis?
-pH 7.51, PaO2 94 mmHg, PaCO2 36 mmHg, HCO3- 31 mEq/L
-pH 7.48, PaO2 89 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3- 26 mEq/L
-pH 7.31, PaO2 77 mmHg, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3- 23 mEq/L
-pH 7.26, PaO2 84 mmHg, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3- 20 mEq/L - ANSWER pH 7.51,
PaO2 94 mm Hg, PaCO2 36 mm Hg, HCO3- 31 mEq/L
,2|Page
An elevated pH and HCO3- with a PaCO2 either elevated or within the expected
reference range indicates metabolic alkalosis.
A nurse is caring for a client who has dehydration and is receiving IV fluids. When
assessing for complications, the nurse should recognize which of the following
manifestations as a sign of fluid overload?
-Increased urine specific gravity
-Hypoactive bowel sounds
-Bounding peripheral pulses
-Decreased respiratory rate - ANSWER Bounding peripheral pulses
The nurse should recognize that increased vascular volume results in full,
bounding peripheral pulses.
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing respiratory distress as a result of
pulmonary edema. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
-Assist with intubation
-Initiate high-flow oxygen therapy
-Administer a rapid-acting diuretic
-Provide cardiac monitoring - ANSWER Initiate high-flow oxygen therapy.
, 3|Page
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the nurse
should first administer high-flow oxygen therapy by face mask at 5 to 6 L/min to
keep the client's oxygen saturation above 90%.
A nurse is admitting a client who takes 40 mg furosemide daily for heart failure
and has experienced 3 days of vomiting. The nurse suspects hypokalemia. Which
of the following medications should the nurse prepare to administer?
-Sodium polystyrene sulfonate 30 g/day
-0.9% sodium chloride with 10 mEq/L of potassium chloride at 100 mL/hr
-Bumetanide 8 mg/day
-100 mL of dextrose 10% in water with 10 units of insulin - ANSWER 0.9% sodium
chloride with 10 mEq/L of potassium chloride at 100 mL/hr
This IV solution will provide adequate fluid and potassium replacement to offset
the losses from vomiting. The typical amount of potassium chloride to administer
IV is 5 to 10 mEq/hr and not to exceed 20 mEq/hr. The dilution should be 1 mEq to
10 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride.
A nurse is admitting a client who has status asthmaticus. The client's ABG results
are pH 7.32, PaO2 74 mmHg, PaCO2 56 mmHg, and HCO3- 26 mEq/L. The nurse
should interpret these laboratory values as which of the following imbalances?
-Respiratory acidosis
-Respiratory alkalosis
-Metabolic acidosis
ATI FLUID, ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID-BASE
TARGETED EXAM [2025/26 LATEST VERSION]
A nurse is assessing a client who has a serum calcium level of 8.1 mg/dL. Which of
the following findings is the priority for the nurse to assess?
-Deep tendon reflexes
-Cardiac rhythm
-Peripheral sensation
-Bowel sounds - ANSWER Cardiac rhythm
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the nurse
should first assess the client's cardiac rhythm because this total serum calcium
level is below the expected reference range. Hypocalcemia can cause ECG
changes, bradycardia, or tachycardia.
A nurse is caring for a client who requires nasogastric suctioning. Which of the
following sets of laboratory results indicates that the client has metabolic
alkalosis?
-pH 7.51, PaO2 94 mmHg, PaCO2 36 mmHg, HCO3- 31 mEq/L
-pH 7.48, PaO2 89 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, HCO3- 26 mEq/L
-pH 7.31, PaO2 77 mmHg, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3- 23 mEq/L
-pH 7.26, PaO2 84 mmHg, PaCO2 38 mmHg, HCO3- 20 mEq/L - ANSWER pH 7.51,
PaO2 94 mm Hg, PaCO2 36 mm Hg, HCO3- 31 mEq/L
,2|Page
An elevated pH and HCO3- with a PaCO2 either elevated or within the expected
reference range indicates metabolic alkalosis.
A nurse is caring for a client who has dehydration and is receiving IV fluids. When
assessing for complications, the nurse should recognize which of the following
manifestations as a sign of fluid overload?
-Increased urine specific gravity
-Hypoactive bowel sounds
-Bounding peripheral pulses
-Decreased respiratory rate - ANSWER Bounding peripheral pulses
The nurse should recognize that increased vascular volume results in full,
bounding peripheral pulses.
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing respiratory distress as a result of
pulmonary edema. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
-Assist with intubation
-Initiate high-flow oxygen therapy
-Administer a rapid-acting diuretic
-Provide cardiac monitoring - ANSWER Initiate high-flow oxygen therapy.
, 3|Page
When using the airway, breathing, circulation approach to client care, the nurse
should first administer high-flow oxygen therapy by face mask at 5 to 6 L/min to
keep the client's oxygen saturation above 90%.
A nurse is admitting a client who takes 40 mg furosemide daily for heart failure
and has experienced 3 days of vomiting. The nurse suspects hypokalemia. Which
of the following medications should the nurse prepare to administer?
-Sodium polystyrene sulfonate 30 g/day
-0.9% sodium chloride with 10 mEq/L of potassium chloride at 100 mL/hr
-Bumetanide 8 mg/day
-100 mL of dextrose 10% in water with 10 units of insulin - ANSWER 0.9% sodium
chloride with 10 mEq/L of potassium chloride at 100 mL/hr
This IV solution will provide adequate fluid and potassium replacement to offset
the losses from vomiting. The typical amount of potassium chloride to administer
IV is 5 to 10 mEq/hr and not to exceed 20 mEq/hr. The dilution should be 1 mEq to
10 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride.
A nurse is admitting a client who has status asthmaticus. The client's ABG results
are pH 7.32, PaO2 74 mmHg, PaCO2 56 mmHg, and HCO3- 26 mEq/L. The nurse
should interpret these laboratory values as which of the following imbalances?
-Respiratory acidosis
-Respiratory alkalosis
-Metabolic acidosis
