Author Question: The nurse is caring for a patient with a neurologic injury who is awake. On assessment, the patient ... (Read 54 times)

deesands · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The nurse is caring for a patient with a neurologic injury who is awake. On assessment, the patient displays mild disorientation to surroundings and time and needs additional verbal cues to stimulate response to commands.

The nurse correctly documents the patient's level of con-sciousness (LOC) by using which term?
a. Alert
b. Confused
c. Lethargic
d. Obtunded

Question 2

The patient who has had diarrhea for the last 3 days has blood gases of pH of 7.1, HCO3- of 20 mEq/L, and PCO2 of 36 mm Hg. These laboratory values are consistent with which acid-base imbalance?

a. Respiratory alkalosis
b. Metabolic alkalosis
c. Respiratory acidosis
d. Metabolic acidosis

johnharpe · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
The confused patient is awake, but slightly confused and needs coaching to respond to com-mands. Alert indicates appropriate response to questions and commands with little stimulation. Lethargic is described as the patient being drowsy, but easily aroused. Obtunded patients are more difficult to arouse and respond slowly to stimulation.

Answer to Question 2

D
Metabolic acidosis shows a low pH, low HCO3-, and normal CO2.