A nurse is caring for a patient with metabolic alkalosis.
What actions should the nurse take?
Place the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring.
Obtain a prescription for insulin for the patient.
Plan to administer sodium bicarbonate to the patient.
Have the patient breathe into a paper bag.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Metabolic alkalosis is an acid-base imbalance characterized by excessive loss of acid or excessive gain of bicarbonate produced by an underlying pathologic disorder. It causes metabolic, respiratory, and renal responses, producing characteristic symptoms. One of the manifestations of metabolic alkalosis is cardiovascular abnormalities, such as atrial tachycardia. Therefore, placing the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring is a necessary action to assess the patient’s heart rate and rhythm and detect any abnormalities early.
Choice B rationale:
Insulin is not typically used in the treatment of metabolic alkalosis. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. It’s not directly related to the body’s acid-base balance. Therefore, obtaining a prescription for insulin for the patient would not be a relevant action in this case.
Choice C rationale:
Administering sodium bicarbonate to a patient with metabolic alkalosis would not be appropriate. Sodium bicarbonate is a base and is often used to treat metabolic acidosis, a condition characterized by an excess of acid in the body. Giving sodium bicarbonate to a patient with metabolic alkalosis, a condition characterized by an excess of base in the body, could potentially worsen the patient’s condition.
Choice D rationale:
Having the patient breathe into a paper bag is a common treatment for respiratory alkalosis, not metabolic alkalosis.
Respiratory alkalosis is caused by hyperventilation, which leads to a decrease in carbon dioxide in the blood. Breathing into a paper bag helps to increase the amount of carbon dioxide the person inhales, helping to restore the acid-base balance. However, metabolic alkalosis is not caused by hyperventilation, so this treatment
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Numbness in the fingers is not typically a symptom of respiratory acidosis. This condition is characterized by an excess of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the body, which leads to a decrease in the pH of your blood, making it too acidic. Numbness in the fingers could be a symptom of other conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy or Raynaud’s disease.
Choice B rationale:
Abdominal pain is also not a common symptom of respiratory acidosis. While abdominal discomfort can occur in a variety of conditions, it is not directly associated with the acid-base balance disturbance that characterizes respiratory acidosis.
Conditions that commonly cause abdominal pain include gastrointestinal issues like gastritis, appendicitis, or gallstones.
Choice C rationale:
Dry skin is not a symptom of respiratory acidosis. The skin’s condition can be influenced by many factors, including hydration, environmental conditions, and certain skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Respiratory acidosis, on the other hand, is a condition that affects the acid-base balance in the body due to alveolar hypoventilation.
Choice D rationale:
Lethargy is indeed a symptom of respiratory acidosis. This condition occurs when the lungs can’t remove enough CO2, leading to an increase in the acidity of the blood. Symptoms of respiratory acidosis vary according to how long you’ve had the condition and its severity. Initial symptoms can include anxiety, blurred vision, and shortness of breath. If left untreated or in severe cases, symptoms may include fatigue, lethargy, delirium, or confusion. Therefore, a nurse assessing a patient with respiratory acidosis should anticipate lethargy among other symptoms.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Muscle twitching is a symptom of oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity is a condition resulting from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen (O2) at increased partial pressures. Severe cases can result in cell damage and death, with effects most often seen in the central nervous system, lungs, and eyes. Central nervous system symptoms can include muscle twitching.
Choice B rationale:
Redness of the face is not typically associated with oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity primarily affects the central nervous system, lungs, and eyes. It does not typically cause redness of the face.
Choice C rationale:
Swelling around the eyes is not a common symptom of oxygen toxicity. The primary effects of oxygen toxicity are seen in the central nervous system, lungs, and eyes. However, this does not typically manifest as swelling around the eyes.
Choice D rationale:
A metallic taste in the mouth is not a known symptom of oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity is a condition that results from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen (O2) at increased partial pressures. It primarily affects the central nervous system, lungs, and eyes, but a metallic taste in the mouth is not a recognized symptom.
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