Mrs. Kalen is a 70 year old female who has arrived into the ER due to persistent vomiting for two days now. She appears to be lethargic and weak and has myalgia. She is noted to have dry mucus membranes and her capillary refill takes >4 seconds. She is diagnosed as having gastroenteritis and dehydration. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.5, PaO2 85 mm Hg, PaCO2 40 mm Hg, and HCO3 34 mmol/L. What would you interpret the acid-base disorder to be?

Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis

Fully Compensated Metabolic Acidosis

Uncompensated Metabolic Alkalosis

Partially Compensated Respiratory Alkalosis

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

The pH value of 7.5 indicates alkalosis, as it is above the normal range of 7.35-7.45. The elevated bicarbonate (HCO3-) level of 34 mmol/L suggests metabolic alkalosis, as it is higher than the normal range of 22-28 mmol/L. The PaCO2 level of 40 mm Hg falls within the normal range of 35-45 mm Hg.

In this case, the primary disturbance is metabolic alkalosis, which is likely caused by vomiting leading to excessive loss of gastric acid (hydrogen ions) and chloride ions from the stomach. This loss of acid and chloride results in an imbalance of electrolytes and an increase in bicarbonate levels, leading to metabolic alkalosis.

The arterial blood gas results do not indicate any compensation. Compensation occurs when the body attempts to restore the pH balance by adjusting the respiratory or metabolic systems. In this case, there is no compensation observed because the PaCO2 level is within the normal range and not significantly altered.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Pain tolerance refers to the maximum level of pain that an individual can tolerate without significant distress. It is influenced by various factors, including psychological and emotional factors. While emotions such as anger, boredom, and introversion can have an impact on a person's pain perception and experience, sleep plays a significant role in pain tolerance. During sleep, the body is in a state of rest and relaxation, allowing for decreased sensory input and potentially reducing pain perception. Sleep provides an opportunity for the body to repair and heal, which can contribute to improved pain tolerance. Additionally, sleep promotes the release of endogenous opioids, which are natural pain-relieving substances produced by the body.

A. Place the child in a quiet environment. B. Apply lotion to hands and feet. C. Encourage the parents to rest when possible. D. Make a list of foods that the child likes.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A client is suffering from osteoarthritis in the knees and the nurse is providing care. The nurse is assessing the client's pain level and pain tolerance. Based on the nurse's understanding of pain, the nurse knows that a client's pain tolerance is most likely relieved by which of the following?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A child diagnosed with Kawasaki disease is brought to the clinic. The mother reports that her child is irritable, refuses to eat, and has skin peeling on both hands and feet. Which intervention should the nurse instruct the mother to implement first?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Which medication should the nurse anticipate being used first in the emergency department for relief of severe respiratory distress related to asthma?

Which nursing documentation demonstrates the integration of patient-centered care?

Celecoxib is what class of drug?

A patient, age 23, underwent a rhinoplasty 6 hours ago. After administering his pain medication, the nurse notes that he is swallowing frequently. What is the most likely cause of the swallowing?

A 58-year-old man is going to have chemotherapy for lung cancer. He asks the nurse how the chemotherapeutic drugs will work.The most accurate explanation the nurse can give is which of the following?

A patient with a gastric outlet obstruction has been treated with NG decompression. After the first 24 hours, the patient develops nausea and increased upper abdominal bowel sounds. What is the best action by the nurse?

You're working as a triage nurse during a disaster situation. Based on the triage color code tags placed on each of the wounded, which tag color represents the wounded who has the highest priority of being treated first?