A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is short of breath. When reviewing the client's arterial blood gases (ABGs), which of the following conditions should the nurse anticipate the client to be experiencing?
Respiratory acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
The Correct Answer is A
A. Respiratory acidosis: COPD often results in impaired gas exchange and decreased removal of carbon dioxide, leading to its accumulation in the blood. This results in respiratory acidosis, characterized by elevated PaCO2 and a decreased pH.
B. Respiratory alkalosis: This condition is generally associated with hyperventilation, where excessive loss of carbon dioxide leads to a higher blood pH. It is less common in COPD, where hypoventilation is more typical.
C. Metabolic acidosis: While COPD can sometimes lead to metabolic acidosis, it is not the primary condition associated with the disease. Metabolic acidosis usually results from conditions affecting the kidneys or metabolic processes.
D. Metabolic alkalosis: This is characterized by an increased blood pH due to a loss of acid or an excess of bicarbonate. It is not typically associated with COPD.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Hyperventilation: Hyperventilation is more commonly associated with respiratory alkalosis or anxiety rather than hypokalemia. Hypokalemia does not typically cause hyperventilation.
B. Bradypnea: Bradypnea (slow breathing) is not a common finding in hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can affect muscle function, including respiratory muscles, but bradypnea is not a characteristic sign.
C. Syncope: While syncope (fainting) can occur due to various conditions, it is not a specific or common finding directly associated with hypokalemia. Hypokalemia mainly affects the heart and muscles.
D. U waves on electrocardiogram: U waves are a classic electrocardiogram (ECG) finding associated with hypokalemia. These waves appear after the T wave and are indicative of the electrolyte imbalance affecting cardiac repolarization.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Absence of breath sounds over the affected area is a hallmark sign of a pneumothorax. This occurs because air in the pleural space prevents lung expansion, leading to a lack of air movement and, consequently, no breath sounds. Monitoring for this symptom is critical in identifying a pneumothorax.
B. Coarse crackles are typically associated with fluid in the lungs, such as in cases of pulmonary edema or pneumonia. These sounds are not indicative of a pneumothorax, where air rather than fluid accumulates in the pleural space.
C. Inspiratory stridor is a high-pitched sound often associated with upper airway obstruction, such as in cases of croup or foreign body aspiration. It is not a common manifestation of a pneumothorax, which involves the pleural space rather than the upper airway.
D. Expiratory wheeze is typically associated with conditions that involve narrowing of the airways, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is not a characteristic finding in pneumothorax, where the issue is lung collapse rather than airway constriction.
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