A nurse is caring for a female client in the emergency department who reports shortness of breath and pain in the lung area. She states that she started taking birth control pills 3 weeks ago and that she smokes. Her heart rate is 110/min, respiratory rate 40/min, and blood pressure 140/80 mm Hg. Her arterial blood gases are pH 7.50, PaCO2 29 mm Hg, PaO2 60 mm Hg, HCO3 20 mEq/L, and SaO2 86%. Which of the following is the priority nursing intervention?

Prepare to administer a sedative.

Prepare for mechanical ventilation.

Massage the calf area for tenderness.

Assess for indications of pulmonary embolism.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

The correct answer is d. Assess for indications of pulmonary embolism.

Choice A rationale:

Administering a sedative is not appropriate as the priority intervention. Sedatives can depress respiratory function, which is already compromised in this patient.

Choice B rationale:

Preparing for mechanical ventilation might be necessary if the patient’s condition worsens, but it is not the immediate priority. The priority is to identify the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

Massaging the calf area for tenderness is not relevant in this context. While calf tenderness can be a sign of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to pulmonary embolism, the immediate priority is to assess for pulmonary embolism directly.

Choice D rationale:

Assessing for indications of pulmonary embolism is the priority because the patient’s symptoms (shortness of breath, chest pain, recent use of birth control pills, smoking history, and abnormal ABG values) strongly suggest a pulmonary embolism. Early identification and treatment are crucial to prevent further complications.

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Correct Answer is ["A","C","D"]

Explanation

The correct answer is choice A, C, and D.

Choice A rationale:

Lethargy is a common symptom of metabolic alkalosis due to the body’s attempt to compensate for the altered pH balance, leading to decreased energy levels and fatigue.

Choice B rationale:

Kussmaul’s respirations are typically associated with metabolic acidosis, not alkalosis. These deep, labored breaths are the body’s way of trying to expel excess carbon dioxide to correct acidosis.

Choice C rationale:

Circumoral paresthesia, or tingling around the mouth, is a symptom of metabolic alkalosis. This occurs due to changes in calcium ion concentration affecting nerve function.

Choice D rationale:

Bicarbonate excess is a direct cause of metabolic alkalosis. Elevated bicarbonate levels in the blood lead to an increased pH, resulting in alkalosis.

Choice E rationale:

Flushing is not a typical symptom of metabolic alkalosis. It is more commonly associated with conditions that cause vasodilation or increased blood flow to the skin.

A. Encourage the patient to breathe in and out slowly into a paper bag. B. Immediately administer oxygen via a mask and monitor oxygen saturation. C. Anticipate the administration of intravenous sodium bicarbonate. D. Prepare to start an intravenous fluid bolus using isotonic fluids.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The correct answer is choice A: Encourage the patient to breathe in and out slowly into a paper bag.

Choice A rationale:The patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) results indicate respiratory alkalosis, as evidenced by the elevated pH (7.48) and decreased PaCO2 (25 mm Hg). Respiratory alkalosis often results from hyperventilation, which can occur due to anxiety. Breathing into a paper bag helps to increase CO2 levels in the blood, thereby correcting the alkalosis.

Choice B rationale:Administering oxygen is not appropriate in this scenario because the patient’s PaO2 is already elevated (110 mm Hg), indicating that oxygenation is not the issue. Providing additional oxygen would not address the underlying problem of hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis.

Choice C rationale:Intravenous sodium bicarbonate is used to treat metabolic acidosis, not respiratory alkalosis. In this case, the patient’s HCO3 is within the normal range (24 mEq/L), indicating that there is no metabolic acidosis present.

Choice D rationale:Starting an intravenous fluid bolus with isotonic fluids is not indicated for correcting respiratory alkalosis. This intervention is more appropriate for patients experiencing hypovolemia or dehydration, which is not suggested by the patient’s ABG results.

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Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client who has metabolic alkalosis. For which of the following clinical manifestations should the nurse monitor? (Select all that apply.).

Correct Answer is ["A","C","D"]

Explanation

The nurse is caring for a patient who is anxious and dizzy following a traumatic experience. The arterial blood gas findings include: pH 7.48, PaO2 110, PaCO2 25, and HCO3 24. Which intervention should the nurse expect to be prescribed to correct this problem?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gas results for a client in the ICU who has kidney failure and determines the client has respiratory acidosis. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A patient with a history of stomach ulcers is diagnosed with hypophosphatemia. What intervention should the nurse include in this patient's plan of care?

The nurse is reviewing the health problems for a group of assigned patients. Which patient does the nurse recognize as being at increased risk for developing metabolic alkalosis?

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The nurse is admitting a patient who was diagnosed with acute renal failure. Which electrolyte should the nurse expect to be most affected with this disorder?

The patient who has a serum magnesium level of 1.4 mg/dL is being treated with dietary modification. Which foods should the nurse suggest for this patient?

A postoperative patient is diagnosed with fluid volume overload. What should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?