Author Question: The client is admitted to the emergency department (ED) with symptoms of a panic attack, including ... (Read 93 times)

sabina · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The client is admitted to the emergency department (ED) with symptoms of a panic attack, including hyperventilation. Based on this data, the nurse plans care for which health problem?

A) Hypoventilation
B) Vomiting
C) Respiratory alkalosis
D) Memory loss

Question 2

A client is admitted to the hospital with sudden, severe abdominal pain. The client is diagnosed with respiratory alkalosis.

Which arterial blood gas value does the nurse document to support this diagnosis?
A) pH is 7.33 and PaCO2 is 36.
B) pH is 7.30 and HCO3 is 30.
C) pH is 7.47 and PaCO2 is 25.
D) pH is 7.35 and PaO2 is 88.

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

Answer to Question 1

Answer: C

Anxiety disorders increase the risk for the acid-base imbalance respiratory alkalosis, due to hyperventilation that accompanies anxiety and panic attacks. The client with anxiety does not necessarily have vomiting or memory loss as risk factors. Anxiety and panic attacks will lead to hyperventilation, not hypoventilation.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: C

Acute pain usually causes hyperventilation, which causes the CO2 to drop and the client to experience respiratory alkalosis. The pH would denote alkalosis and would be higher than 7.45. HCO3 would trend downwards as the kidneys begin to compensate for the alkalosis by excreting HCO3. The PaO2 is likely to be normal unless the client has been hyperventilating for a long time and is beginning to tire.