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?

Encourage the patient to breathe in and out slowly into a paper bag.

Immediately administer oxygen via a mask and monitor oxygen saturation.

Anticipate the administration of intravenous sodium bicarbonate.

Prepare to start an intravenous fluid bolus using isotonic fluids.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

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.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

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

Explanation

A, D, and E.

Choice A rationale:

Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes diuresis, causing an increase in urine output. It is essential for the patient to expect this effect and understand that it helps in reducing fluid overload.

Choice B rationale:

Feeling weak and dizzy is not an expected effect of furosemide. It is more commonly associated with dehydration or excessive fluid loss, which can occur if the medication causes too much diuresis.

Choice C rationale:

Taking furosemide before going to sleep is not recommended because it can lead to nighttime diuresis, disrupting sleep and potentially causing electrolyte imbalances.

Choice D rationale:

Swelling of the face or hands may indicate an adverse reaction to furosemide or an underlying medical issue. The nurse should instruct the patient to report any such symptoms promptly.

Choice E rationale:

Monitoring body weight daily is crucial for patients on diuretic therapy to assess fluid status and response to treatment. Rapid weight gain may indicate worsening fluid overload, while significant weight loss may indicate excessive diuresis.

A. Prepare to administer a sedative. B. Prepare for mechanical ventilation. C. Massage the calf area for tenderness. D. Assess for indications of pulmonary embolism. E. None F. None

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The correct answer isd. 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.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

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?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient with fluid overload is prescribed furosemide (Lasix) 20 mg by mouth each day. What should the nurse include when teaching the patient about this medication? Select all that apply.

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

Explanation

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A patient experiencing multisystem fluid volume deficit has tachycardia, pale, cool skin, and decreased urine output. The nurse realizes these findings are most likely a direct result of which process?

A nurse is caring for a client whose arterial blood gas results show a pH of 7.3 and a Paco2 of 50 mm Hg. The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing which of the following acid-base imbalances?

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.).

A patient prescribed spironolactone is demonstrating ECG changes and complaining of muscle weakness. The nurse realizes this patient is exhibiting signs of which electrolyte imbalance?

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

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?

A patient with atrial fibrillation and a serum potassium level of 3.0 mEq/L takes digoxin (Lanoxin), ASA (aspirin), KCL (potassium chloride), and warfarin (Coumadin) daily. The patient reports visual disturbances. The nurse suspects problems with which medication?

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving an IV infusion of dextrose 10% in water. The nurse should monitor the client for which of the following adverse effects?