A nurse is reviewing capnography results for adult patients. ...

[P68T]

A nurse is reviewing capnography results for adult patients. Which value will cause the nurse to follow up?
 
  a. 35 mm Hg
  b. 40 mm Hg
  c. 45 mm Hg
  d. 50 mm Hg

Question 2

The patient is being admitted to the emergency department with reports of shortness of breath. The patient has had chronic lung disease for many years but still smokes. What will the nurse do?
 
  a. Allow the patient to breathe into a paper bag.
  b. Use oxygen cautiously in this patient.
  c. Administer high levels of oxygen.
  d. Give CO2 via mask.

[livaneabi]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
50 mm Hg is abnormal so the nurse will follow up. Normal capnography results are 35 to 45 mm Hg.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Oxygen must be used cautiously in these types of patients. Hypoxemia helps to control ventilation in patients with chronic lung disease. Because low levels of arterial O2 provide the stimulus that allows a patient to breathe, administration of high oxygen levels may be fatal for patients with chronic lung disease. Patients with chronic lung disease have ongoing hypercarbia (elevated CO2 levels) and do not need to have CO2 administered or rebreathed with a paper bag.