Author Question: A 76-year-old patient is hospitalized with pneumonia and has become increasingly confused throughout ... (Read 75 times)

leo leo · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A 76-year-old patient is hospitalized with pneumonia and has become increasingly confused throughout the shift. The nurse becomes concerned about the patient's condition and contacts the health care provider, who orders arterial blood gas analysis.

The blood gas report shows a pH of 7.33, PaCO2 of 47, PaO2 of 78, and bicarbonate of 26 . This indicates which imbalance? a. Respiratory alkalosis
b. Respiratory acidosis
c. Metabolic alkalosis
d. Metabolic acidosis

Question 2

A nursing student is volunteering with a local agency to help prepare the community for a potential bioterrorist attack. On which of the following threats would be the nursing student's primary focus?

a. Hurricane
b. Earthquake
c. Anthrax
d. Tornado

Briannahope · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
Normal arterial blood pH value is 7.35 to 7.45 (acidic is less than 7.35, and alkalotic is greater than 7.45). Respiratory acidosis is an increased PaCO2 and an increased hydrogen ion concentra-tion (pH below 7.35) that reflect the excess carbonic acid (H2CO3) in the blood. Hypoventilation produces respiratory acidosis, which causes the cerebrospinal fluid and brain cells to become acidic, thus decreasing the level of consciousness. Respiratory alkalosis is a decreased PaCO2 and increased pH (above 7.45) that reflect the deficit of carbonic acid (H2CO3) in the blood. Me-tabolic acidosis results from conditions that increase metabolic acids in the body or decrease the amount of base (bicarbonate). The bicarbonate level is always low because the bicarbonate system buffers metabolic acids. Metabolic alkalosis results from a gain of bicarbonate or excessive excretion of metabolic acid.

Answer to Question 2

C
A new potential environmental health threat is the possibility of a bioterrorist attack. Threats of this type come in the form of biological, chemical, and radiological attacks. Bioterrorism, or the use of biological agents to create fear and threat, is the most likely form of a terrorist attack to occur. The other responses (hurricane, earthquake, and tornado) are classified as natural disasters.