NSG 117 Exam Review #1 – Gas Exchange, Oxygenation, Infection, Inflammation, Vital Signs,
and Perfusion Study Guide
Gas Exchange - ANS ✔✔process by which O2 is transported to cells and carbon dioxide is
transported from cells.
Ischemia - ANS ✔✔insufficient flow of oxygenated blood to tissues may result in hypoxemia,
and subsequent cell injury or death
Hypoxia - ANS ✔✔insufficient O2 reaching cells. (cyanosis)
Anoxia - ANS ✔✔total lack of O2 in body tissue
Hypoxemia - ANS ✔✔reduced oxygenation of arterial blood. (anemia)
Hypercapnia - ANS ✔✔chronically high levels of carbon dioxide, common in COPD patients, this
high level of CO2 no longer stimulates the brain to inhale, low blood oxygen levels become the
stimulant
Ventilation - ANS ✔✔process of inhaling O2 into the lungs and exhaling CO2 from lungs.
Transport - ANS ✔✔refers to the availability of hemoglobin and it's ability to carry oxygen from
alveoli to cells for metabolism and to carry CO2 produced by cellular metabolism from cells to
lungs.
Perfusion - ANS ✔✔refers to the ability of blood to transport oxygen containing hemoglobin to
cells and return carbon dioxide containing hemoglobin to the alveoli.
, Explain the impact upper and lower airways can have on respiratory system - ANS ✔✔Upper
respiratory=bronchitis (bronchial), lower respiratory= pneumonia
Explain what an impairment of gas exchange is and what can cause it - ANS ✔✔occurs when the
diffusion of gases (oxygen+carbon dioxide) becomes impaired. Can be due to ineffective
ventilation, reduced hemoglobin/RBC's, inadequate perfusion.
Explain some consequences of gas exchange impairment - ANS ✔✔Mild: fatigue, increased
heart and resp. rates, More severe: respiratory acidosis- affects whole body, changes body's PH,
blood becomes acidic, Prolonged/Severe: cellular ischemia, necrosis and death.
Which patient groups are considered the populations most at risk for impaired gas exchange
and why? - ANS ✔✔Infants/ Preemies- born before lungs develop, less hemoglobin.
Children- asthma+ allergies
Older adults- immune system weakens, activity intolerance (tired, short of breath), stiffening of
chest wall= recoils less, muscles weaker, back not as erect.
What are some individual risk factors for impaired gas exchange? - ANS ✔✔Age, SMOKING,
COPD (big alveoli can't inflate/deflate), CF (filled with mucus), heart failure (filled with
water/fluid) immunosuppression, reduced state of cognition (increased risk of
aspirations/pneumonia), brain injury, prolonged immobility (fluid can pool in one spot), drug
and or alcohol use (decreases resp. rate),
What are some signs/symptoms of compromised gas exchange - ANS ✔✔rapid resp./ irregular
pattern, wheezing (tightening of bronchial), use of accessory muscles to breathe, cyanosis (late
stage), the skin is sucked in while trying to breathe (retraction), decreased capillary refill, tactile
crepitus- rice crispies under skin/chest, unclear lung sounds (crackles, wet sounds)
What should the nurse assess for in a patient with impaired gas exchange? - ANS ✔✔Past
medical history/family history, current medications (including the last dose), lifestyle behaviors
(diet, smoking, exercise), occupation (painting cars/fumes), social environment (clean air/
asthma?)
and Perfusion Study Guide
Gas Exchange - ANS ✔✔process by which O2 is transported to cells and carbon dioxide is
transported from cells.
Ischemia - ANS ✔✔insufficient flow of oxygenated blood to tissues may result in hypoxemia,
and subsequent cell injury or death
Hypoxia - ANS ✔✔insufficient O2 reaching cells. (cyanosis)
Anoxia - ANS ✔✔total lack of O2 in body tissue
Hypoxemia - ANS ✔✔reduced oxygenation of arterial blood. (anemia)
Hypercapnia - ANS ✔✔chronically high levels of carbon dioxide, common in COPD patients, this
high level of CO2 no longer stimulates the brain to inhale, low blood oxygen levels become the
stimulant
Ventilation - ANS ✔✔process of inhaling O2 into the lungs and exhaling CO2 from lungs.
Transport - ANS ✔✔refers to the availability of hemoglobin and it's ability to carry oxygen from
alveoli to cells for metabolism and to carry CO2 produced by cellular metabolism from cells to
lungs.
Perfusion - ANS ✔✔refers to the ability of blood to transport oxygen containing hemoglobin to
cells and return carbon dioxide containing hemoglobin to the alveoli.
, Explain the impact upper and lower airways can have on respiratory system - ANS ✔✔Upper
respiratory=bronchitis (bronchial), lower respiratory= pneumonia
Explain what an impairment of gas exchange is and what can cause it - ANS ✔✔occurs when the
diffusion of gases (oxygen+carbon dioxide) becomes impaired. Can be due to ineffective
ventilation, reduced hemoglobin/RBC's, inadequate perfusion.
Explain some consequences of gas exchange impairment - ANS ✔✔Mild: fatigue, increased
heart and resp. rates, More severe: respiratory acidosis- affects whole body, changes body's PH,
blood becomes acidic, Prolonged/Severe: cellular ischemia, necrosis and death.
Which patient groups are considered the populations most at risk for impaired gas exchange
and why? - ANS ✔✔Infants/ Preemies- born before lungs develop, less hemoglobin.
Children- asthma+ allergies
Older adults- immune system weakens, activity intolerance (tired, short of breath), stiffening of
chest wall= recoils less, muscles weaker, back not as erect.
What are some individual risk factors for impaired gas exchange? - ANS ✔✔Age, SMOKING,
COPD (big alveoli can't inflate/deflate), CF (filled with mucus), heart failure (filled with
water/fluid) immunosuppression, reduced state of cognition (increased risk of
aspirations/pneumonia), brain injury, prolonged immobility (fluid can pool in one spot), drug
and or alcohol use (decreases resp. rate),
What are some signs/symptoms of compromised gas exchange - ANS ✔✔rapid resp./ irregular
pattern, wheezing (tightening of bronchial), use of accessory muscles to breathe, cyanosis (late
stage), the skin is sucked in while trying to breathe (retraction), decreased capillary refill, tactile
crepitus- rice crispies under skin/chest, unclear lung sounds (crackles, wet sounds)
What should the nurse assess for in a patient with impaired gas exchange? - ANS ✔✔Past
medical history/family history, current medications (including the last dose), lifestyle behaviors
(diet, smoking, exercise), occupation (painting cars/fumes), social environment (clean air/
asthma?)
