Deck 8: Acidbase Balances

Question 1

The nurse is providing care for a client experiencing respiratory acidosis. The health-care provider prescribes that the client be placed on mechanical ventilation and be administered sodium bicarbonate. Which understanding does the nurse have regarding the prescribed treatment?
1)Prescribed care will resolve the origin of the imbalance
2)The prescription will assist in retaining hydrogen (H⁺)
3)Kidney compensation for acidosis is a slow process
4)Respiratory acidosis does not respond to buffering

Answer 1

3

Question 2

Which information is interpreted from arterial blood gas values? Select all that apply.
1)Presence of acidosis and alkalosis
2)Respiratory and metabolic conditions
3)Disorders of the lungs
4)Presence of bacterial infections
5)Conditions related to starvation

Answer 2

1, 2, 3

Question 3

Which is an acidic pH of blood? 1.6.00
2)7.40
3)8.00
4)8.35

Answer 3

1

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with renal failure. Which mechanism of compensation for the acid-base disturbance does the nurse recognize in the client?
1)The client retains carbon dioxide in excess.
2)The client's oxygen saturation level improves.
3)The client's blood pH decreases from the present value.
4)The client breathes rapidly to eliminate carbon dioxide.

Question 5

The nurse is reviewing the laboratory results for a client, which are blood pH 7.36, PCO₂ 48 mm Hg, PO₂ 96 mm Hg, HCO₃ 24 mEq/L, and SaO₂ 98% on room air. Which condition does the nurse recognize based on the displayed values?
1)Hypoxia
2)Respiratory acidosis
3)Hypercapnia
4)Metabolic alkalosis

Question 6

An older adult client is exhibiting lethargy, confusion, and a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute. The nurse sees that the last dose of medication administered through a client-controlled analgesic pump was within the last 30 minutes. Which acid-base disorder might the client have developed?
1)Metabolic acidosis
2)Metabolic alkalosis
3)Respiratory acidosis
4)Respiratory alkalosis

Question 7

Which is the compound that donates hydrogen ions in a solution?
1)Acid
2)Base
3)Buffer
4)Oxygen

Question 8

Which is a physical assessment finding of respiratory acidosis?
1)Cyanosis
2)Tachycardia
3)Hypotension
4)Hypertension

Question 9

The nurse is providing care to a patient with metabolic acidosis. For which reason does the nurse note a laboratory result indicating hyperkalemia?
1)K⁺ ions force the H⁺ ions into cells.
2)The kidneys are inundated with H⁺ ions.
3)The abundance of H⁺ ions moves into cells.
4)H⁺ ions are filtered out of the blood by the kidneys.

Question 10

Which condition develops due to metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap?
1)Ketoacidosis
2)Hypoaldosteronism
3)Hyperalimentation
4)Increased renal HCO₃^- loss

Question 11

A comatose client's blood pH is 7.1, partial pressure of carbon dioxide is 16 millimeters of mercury, and bicarbonate concentration is 5 milliequivalent/liter. Which acid-base imbalance has the client developed?
1)Metabolic acidosis
2)Metabolic alkalosis
3)Respiratory acidosis
4)None of the above

Question 12

Which condition is caused by an increase in the amount of potassium in the blood?
1)Hypocapnia
2)Hypotension
3)Hyperkalemia
4)Hypercalcemia

Question 13

The nurse is providing care for a client with an undiagnosed illness. Calculations of the anion gap indicate an elevation, and the client is identified as being positive for metabolic acidosis. Which question does the nurse ask the client?
1)"Do you have a history of cardiac problems?"
2)"Have you noticed any respiratory distress?"
3)"Are you taking regular doses of aspirin?"
4)"Do you medicate for any stomach issues?"

Question 14

Which change in arterial blood gases does the nurse expect to occur as a result of hypoventilation?
1)Partial pressure of CO₂ increases.
2)Lungs decrease carbon dioxide.
3)Respiratory alkalosis occurs.
4)The level of CO₂ is decreased.

Question 15

A client who is taking a licensure examination is nervous and breathing rapidly in the examination hall. Which acid-base imbalance is the client at risk for developing?
1)Metabolic acidosis
2)Metabolic alkalosis
3)Respiratory acidosis
4)Respiratory alkalosis

Question 16

An unconscious client is brought to the hospital. The client's arterial blood gases show a pH greater than 7.45 and a bicarbonate level of 36 mEq/L. Which acid-base imbalance has the client developed?
1)Metabolic acidosis
2)Metabolic alkalosis
3)Respiratory acidosis
4)Respiratory alkalosis

Question 17

The nurse is analyzing an arterial blood gas report of a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory acidosis. Which compensation mechanism is likely to occur?
1)The kidneys will retain bicarbonate.
2)The kidneys will excrete bicarbonate.
3)The lungs will retain carbon dioxide.
4)The lungs will excrete carbon dioxide.

Question 18

Which factor does hyperventilation of the lungs increase?
1)Blood pH
2)Acid in the blood
3)Carbon dioxide in the blood
4)Carbonic acid in the blood

Question 19

A nurse is caring for a client who is anxious and dizzy after a traumatic experience. The arterial blood gas findings include a pH level of 7.48, partial pressure of oxygen at 110, partial pressure of carbon dioxide at 25, and bicarbonate at 2D. Which initial intervention does the nurse implement?
1)Administer antidepressants
2)Administer oxygen through a mask
3)Encourage the client to breathe into a paper bag
4)Administer sodium bicarbonate intravenously

Question 20

The nurse is providing care to a client admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after a severe accident. The client has several fractured ribs and lost a considerable amount of blood due to lacerations. What is the nurse's primary concern when monitoring the client for acid-base imbalances?
1)Decreased protein levels
2)Increased phosphate levels
3)Increased carbonic acid and bicarbonate levels
4)Decreased carbon dioxide levels

Question 21

The nurse is providing care for a client who is experiencing respiratory distress related to pneumonia. In order to decrease the amount of CO₂ being lost through shallow and rapid respirations the nurse applies a ____________ mask.

Question 22

A client is diagnosed with metabolic alkalosis. The nurse expects the client's respirations to be slow to ____________________ CO₂ retention.