The nurse would expect a patient with respiratory acidosis to ...

[Sufayan.ah]

The nurse would expect a patient with respiratory acidosis to have an excessive amount of
 
  a. Carbon dioxide.
  b. Bicarbonate.
  c. Oxygen.
  d. Phosphate.

Question 2

A patient was admitted for a bowel obstruction and has had a nasogastric tube set to low inter-mittent suction for the past 3 days. The patient's respiratory rate has decreased to 12 breaths per minute.
 
  The nurse would expect the patient to have which of the following arterial blood gas values?
  a. pH 7.78, PaCO2 40 mm Hg, HCO3 30 mEq/L
  b. pH 7.52, PaCO2 48 mm Hg, HCO3 28 mEq/L
  c. pH 7.35, PaCO2 35 mm Hg, HCO3 26 mEq/L
  d. pH 7.25, PaCO2 47 mm Hg, HCO3 29 mEq/L

[fwbard]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs are not able to excrete enough carbon dioxide. Car-bon dioxide and water create carbonic acid. A buildup of carbonic acid causes the ECF to be-come more acidic, decreasing the pH. Bicarbonate is normal with uncompensated respiratory ac-idosis or elevated with compensated respiratory acidosis. Excessive oxygen and phosphate are not characteristic of respiratory acidosis.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Compensated metabolic alkalosis should show alkalosis pH and HCO3 (metabolic) values, with a slightly acidic CO2 (compensatory respiratory acidosis). In this case, pH 7.52 is alkaline (normal = 7.35 to 7.45), PaCO2 is acidic (normal 35 to 45 mm Hg), and HCO3 is elevated (normal = 22 to 26 mEq/L). A result of pH 7.78, PaCO2 40 mm Hg, HCO3 30 mEq/L is uncompensated meta-bolic alkalosis. pH 7.35, PaCO2 35 mm Hg, HCO3 26 mEq/L is within normal limits. pH 7.25, PaCO2 47 mm Hg, HCO3 29 mEq/L is compensated respiratory acidosis.

[Sufayan.ah]

Thank you!

[fwbard]

Always glad to help...