you are an emergency room nurse caring for a trauma patient your patient has the following arterial blood gas results ph 726 paco2 28 hco3 11 meql how
Logo

Nursing Elites

ATI RN

ATI Fluid and Electrolytes

1. You are an emergency-room nurse caring for a trauma patient. Your patient has the following arterial blood gas results: pH 7.26, PaCO2 28, HCO3 11 mEq/L. How would you interpret these results?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: A low pH indicates acidosis (normal pH is 7.35 to 7.45). The PaCO2 is also low, which causes alkalosis. The bicarbonate is low, which causes acidosis. The pH bicarbonate more closely corresponds with a decrease in pH, making the metabolic component the primary problem. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the arterial blood gas results is metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the primary acid-base disturbance and the compensatory response seen in the given results.

2. A gerontologic nurse is teaching students about the high incidence and prevalence of dehydration in older adults. What factors contribute to this phenomenon? Select all that do not apply.

Correct answer: D

Rationale:

3. A nurse is caring for a client who has just had a central venous access line inserted. Which action should the nurse take next?

Correct answer: B

Rationale:

4. A patient has questioned the nurses administration of IV normal saline, asking whether sterile water would be a more appropriate choice than saltwater. Under what circumstances would the nurse administer electrolyte-free water intravenously?

Correct answer: A

Rationale:

5. What would be the best initial nursing action prior to inserting an IV?

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best initial nursing action prior to inserting an IV is to verify the order for IV therapy. This step ensures that the IV insertion is appropriate and necessary based on the physician's orders. Instructing the patient to wash their hands (Choice A) is important for infection control but not the immediate priority before IV insertion. While preparing the IV insertion site with povidone iodine (Choice B) and identifying a suitable vein (Choice D) are crucial steps in the process, confirming the order for IV therapy (Choice C) takes precedence to ensure the correct intervention is being performed.

Similar Questions

The ICU nurse is caring for a patient who experienced trauma in a workplace accident. The patient is complaining of having trouble breathing with abdominal pain. An ABG reveals the following results: pH 7.28, PaCO2 50 mm Hg, HCO3 23 mEq/L. The nurse should recognize the likelihood of what acidbase disorder?
A nurse is caring for a client who has a serum calcium level of 14 mg/dL. Which provider order should the nurse implement first?
The nurse in the medical ICU is caring for a patient who is in respiratory acidosis due to inadequate ventilation. What diagnosis could the patient have that could cause inadequate ventilation?
You are caring for a patient who has a diagnosis of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Your patient's plan of care includes assessment of specific gravity every 4 hours. The results of this test will allow the nurse to assess what aspect of the patient's health?
. A nurse assesses a client who had an intraosseous catheter placed in the left leg. Which assessment finding is of greatest concern?

Access More Features

ATI RN Basic
$69.99/ 30 days

  • 5,000 Questions with answers
  • All ATI courses Coverage
  • 30 days access

ATI RN Premium
$149.99/ 90 days

  • 5,000 Questions with answers
  • All ATI courses Coverage
  • 30 days access

Other Courses