A child with acute asthma has a PaCO2 of 48 mmHg, a pH of 7.31, ...

[DelorasTo]

A child with acute asthma has a PaCO2 of 48 mmHg, a pH of 7.31, and a normal HCO3 blood gas value. The nurse interprets these findings as indicative of which condition?
 
  A) Metabolic acidosis
  B) Respiratory alkalosis
  C) Respiratory acidosis
  D) Metabolic alkalosis

Question 2

A nurse educator is explaining the term hyperplasia to a group of nursing students. Which statement, made by a nursing student, indicates an understanding of why hyperplasia occurs with myocardial infarction?
 
  A) The cells of the muscle experience hyperplasia with the prolonged need for oxygen.
  B) The cells of the heart are metaplastic in response to muscle damage.
  C) The cells of the heart muscle have lost fluid.
  D) The cells of the heart muscle are responding to metabolic needs.

[memslove]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: C
If the pH is decreased and the PaCO2 is increased with a normal HCO3, it is uncompensated respiratory acidosis. In addition, croup can be a disease process that causes respiratory acidosis. Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis has an increased pH, decreased PaCO2, and normal HCO3. Uncompensated metabolic acidosis has a decreased pH, normal PaCO2, and normal HCO3. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis has an increased pH, normal PaCO2, and increased HCO3.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: A

Hyperplasia is an increase in density or number of normal cells in response to stress-in this case, the increased demand for oxygen. Cells that lose fluid will shrink in size. The cells of a person's heart do not enlarge as a metabolic response. Metaplasia is a change in the normal pattern of differentiation of cells.

[DelorasTo]

Excellent

[bblaney]

TYSM