The nurse would expect to see increased ventilations if a patient ...

[meagbuch]

The nurse would expect to see increased ventilations if a patient exhibits
 
  a. Increased oxygen saturation.
  b. Decreased carbon dioxide levels.
  c. Decreased pH.
  d. Increased hemoglobin levels.

Question 2

A nurse caring for a patient who was in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in trauma to C4 would expect to find
 
  a. Decreased tidal volumes.
  b. Increased perfusion.
  c. Increased use of accessory muscles.
  d. Decreased hemoglobin.

[kardosa007]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Retained CO2 creates H+ byproducts that lower pH. This sends a chemical signal to increase respiratory rate and would result in increased ventilation. All other options would cause the ventilation rate to normalize or decrease to increase carbon dioxide retention or as the result of delivery of higher levels of oxygen to tissues.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
A C4 injury would result in damage to the phrenic nerve and would cause a decrease in inspiratory lung expansion. Accessory muscles will also be damaged by a C4 injury. The patient may exhibit decreased perfusion and increased hemoglobin to compensate for hypoxemia.