1
NURS 480
NURS 480/ NURS480 – Advanced Medical
Surgical Health Nursing | WCU | 2026–2027 |
Final Exam (EXAM 1 Content) with Verified
Questions and Answers
1. Respiratory center in the ? controls breathing: Medulla
2. Increased respirations lead to increased?: CO2 elimination and decreased
CO2 in blood
3. Decreased respirations lead to ?: CO2 retention
4. Normal PaCO2: 35-45
5. Normal HCO3: 22-26
6. PaCo2 less than 35=?: Hyperventilation
7. PaCO2 greater than 45 is?: Hypoventilation
8. Normal PaO2: 80-100
9. Normal SaO2: 95%
10. Respiratory acidosis is caused by?: Carbonic acid excess or
NURS
,Compensations
11. (Respiratory acidosis) Carbonic acid excess caused by?: -
Hypoventilation results in
buildup of carbon
dioxide & decrease in
pH - Respiratory
failure
12. (Respiratory acidosis) Compensation is caused by?: - Kidneys conserve
HCO3 & secrete
H+ into urine
13. Respiratory alkalosis is caused by?: - Carbonic acid defict or
- Compensation
23. (Respiratory alkalosis) Carbonic acid deficit caused by?: - Hypoxemia from
acute pul-
monary disorders
- Hyperventilation "blows off" CO2 leading to decreased CO2 & increased pH
,24. (Respiratory alkalosis) Compensation is caused by?: - Can buffer with
bicarbonate shift
- Renal compensation if chronic
25. Metabolic Acidosis is caused by?: Compensatory mechanisms or
Anion gap
26. Metabolic acidosis: Excess carbonic acid or bicarbonate is lost in body
fluid
27. Examples of what could cause metabolic acidosis: - Ketoacidosis
- Lactic acid accumulation (shock)
- Severe diarrhea
- Kidney disease
28. (Metabolic acidosis) Compensatory mechanisms: - Increased CO2
excretion by lungs
(Kussmaul respirations (deep and rapid))
- Kidneys excrete acid
29. (Metabolic acidosis) Anion Gap: Equation: Na+ - (CL+ HCO3)
, - Increased with acid gain
30. Normal Anion Gap: 8-12 mmol/L
31. Metabolic Alkalosis is caused by?: - Base bicarbonate
excess or
- Compensatory mechanisms
32. (Metabolic Alkalosis) Base bicarbonate excess caused by?: - Prolonged
vomiting or gastric suction
- Gain of HCO3
33. (Metabolic Alkalosis) Compensatory mechanisms caused by?: - Renal
excretion of HCO3
- Decreased respiratory rate to increase plasma CO2 (limited)
34 What
imbalance is this?
pH: 7.18 PaCO2:
38
PaO2: 70
NURS 480
NURS 480/ NURS480 – Advanced Medical
Surgical Health Nursing | WCU | 2026–2027 |
Final Exam (EXAM 1 Content) with Verified
Questions and Answers
1. Respiratory center in the ? controls breathing: Medulla
2. Increased respirations lead to increased?: CO2 elimination and decreased
CO2 in blood
3. Decreased respirations lead to ?: CO2 retention
4. Normal PaCO2: 35-45
5. Normal HCO3: 22-26
6. PaCo2 less than 35=?: Hyperventilation
7. PaCO2 greater than 45 is?: Hypoventilation
8. Normal PaO2: 80-100
9. Normal SaO2: 95%
10. Respiratory acidosis is caused by?: Carbonic acid excess or
NURS
,Compensations
11. (Respiratory acidosis) Carbonic acid excess caused by?: -
Hypoventilation results in
buildup of carbon
dioxide & decrease in
pH - Respiratory
failure
12. (Respiratory acidosis) Compensation is caused by?: - Kidneys conserve
HCO3 & secrete
H+ into urine
13. Respiratory alkalosis is caused by?: - Carbonic acid defict or
- Compensation
23. (Respiratory alkalosis) Carbonic acid deficit caused by?: - Hypoxemia from
acute pul-
monary disorders
- Hyperventilation "blows off" CO2 leading to decreased CO2 & increased pH
,24. (Respiratory alkalosis) Compensation is caused by?: - Can buffer with
bicarbonate shift
- Renal compensation if chronic
25. Metabolic Acidosis is caused by?: Compensatory mechanisms or
Anion gap
26. Metabolic acidosis: Excess carbonic acid or bicarbonate is lost in body
fluid
27. Examples of what could cause metabolic acidosis: - Ketoacidosis
- Lactic acid accumulation (shock)
- Severe diarrhea
- Kidney disease
28. (Metabolic acidosis) Compensatory mechanisms: - Increased CO2
excretion by lungs
(Kussmaul respirations (deep and rapid))
- Kidneys excrete acid
29. (Metabolic acidosis) Anion Gap: Equation: Na+ - (CL+ HCO3)
, - Increased with acid gain
30. Normal Anion Gap: 8-12 mmol/L
31. Metabolic Alkalosis is caused by?: - Base bicarbonate
excess or
- Compensatory mechanisms
32. (Metabolic Alkalosis) Base bicarbonate excess caused by?: - Prolonged
vomiting or gastric suction
- Gain of HCO3
33. (Metabolic Alkalosis) Compensatory mechanisms caused by?: - Renal
excretion of HCO3
- Decreased respiratory rate to increase plasma CO2 (limited)
34 What
imbalance is this?
pH: 7.18 PaCO2:
38
PaO2: 70
