Rasmussen University NUR 2392 Exam 2 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | MDC II
Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is interpreting arterial blood gas (ABG) results. After identifying
the pH, what is the next step the nurse should take?
A) Determine oxygenation status
B) Check for compensation
C) Notify the healthcare provider
D) Determine the primary cause
Correct Answer: Determine the primary cause
Rationale: After labeling the pH as acidic or alkaline, the next step is to
determine the primary cause by evaluating PaCO2 (respiratory) and HCO3
(metabolic). This follows the systematic ABG interpretation process. Checking
for compensation, notifying the provider, and determining oxygenation are
later steps.
2. Which ABG finding indicates an uncompensated acid-base imbalance?
A) pH is normal, but PaCO2 and HCO3 are abnormal
B) pH and one other value (PaCO2 or HCO3) are abnormal
C) pH, PaCO2, and HCO3 are all abnormal
D) All values are within normal limits
Correct Answer: pH and one other value (PaCO2 or HCO3) are abnormal
Rationale: Uncompensated means the pH is abnormal and only one of the
compensatory values (PaCO2 or HCO3) is abnormal, indicating the body has
not yet initiated compensation. Full compensation is indicated by a normal
pH with abnormal PaCO2 and HCO3.
,3. A client's ABG results show pH 7.28, PaCO2 50 mm Hg, and HCO3 26
mEq/L. The nurse interprets this as:
A) Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B) Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
C) Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
D) Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
Rationale: The pH is low (7.28), indicating acidosis. The PaCO2 is elevated
(50 mm Hg), indicating a respiratory cause. The HCO3 is normal (26 mEq/L),
indicating no metabolic compensation. This is uncompensated respiratory
acidosis.
4. A client with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has ABG results showing pH 7.25,
PaCO2 30 mm Hg, and HCO3 16 mEq/L. This represents which acid-base
imbalance?
A) Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
B) Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
C) Fully compensated metabolic acidosis
D) Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
Rationale: The pH is low (7.25), indicating acidosis. The HCO3 is low (16
mEq/L), indicating a metabolic cause. The PaCO2 is low (30 mm Hg),
indicating the respiratory system is attempting to compensate by blowing off
CO2. Because the pH is still abnormal, this is partially compensated
metabolic acidosis.
,5. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is at risk for
which acid-base imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Respiratory alkalosis
C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: Clients with COPD retain carbon dioxide due to impaired gas
exchange, leading to respiratory acidosis. The elevated PaCO2 decreases pH,
resulting in acidosis. Respiratory alkalosis is associated with hyperventilation.
6. A client who is hyperventilating due to anxiety is at risk for which acid-
base imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Respiratory alkalosis
C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: Respiratory alkalosis
Rationale: Hyperventilation causes excessive loss of carbon dioxide, leading
to respiratory alkalosis. The decreased PaCO2 increases pH. This is a
common cause of respiratory alkalosis.
7. A client with severe diarrhea is at risk for which acid-base imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Respiratory alkalosis
, C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: Metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Severe diarrhea causes loss of bicarbonate from the
gastrointestinal tract, leading to metabolic acidosis. The loss of bicarbonate
decreases the pH, resulting in acidosis.
8. A client who has been vomiting for several days is at risk for which acid-
base imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Respiratory alkalosis
C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of gastric acid (hydrochloric acid), leading to
metabolic alkalosis. The loss of hydrogen ions increases the pH, resulting in
alkalosis. This is a classic cause of metabolic alkalosis.
9. A nurse is assessing a client with metabolic acidosis. Which respiratory
pattern would the nurse expect?
A) Hypoventilation and shallow breathing
B) Kussmaul's respirations (deep, rapid breathing)
C) Cheyne-Stokes respirations
D) Apneustic breathing
Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is interpreting arterial blood gas (ABG) results. After identifying
the pH, what is the next step the nurse should take?
A) Determine oxygenation status
B) Check for compensation
C) Notify the healthcare provider
D) Determine the primary cause
Correct Answer: Determine the primary cause
Rationale: After labeling the pH as acidic or alkaline, the next step is to
determine the primary cause by evaluating PaCO2 (respiratory) and HCO3
(metabolic). This follows the systematic ABG interpretation process. Checking
for compensation, notifying the provider, and determining oxygenation are
later steps.
2. Which ABG finding indicates an uncompensated acid-base imbalance?
A) pH is normal, but PaCO2 and HCO3 are abnormal
B) pH and one other value (PaCO2 or HCO3) are abnormal
C) pH, PaCO2, and HCO3 are all abnormal
D) All values are within normal limits
Correct Answer: pH and one other value (PaCO2 or HCO3) are abnormal
Rationale: Uncompensated means the pH is abnormal and only one of the
compensatory values (PaCO2 or HCO3) is abnormal, indicating the body has
not yet initiated compensation. Full compensation is indicated by a normal
pH with abnormal PaCO2 and HCO3.
,3. A client's ABG results show pH 7.28, PaCO2 50 mm Hg, and HCO3 26
mEq/L. The nurse interprets this as:
A) Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
B) Partially compensated respiratory acidosis
C) Fully compensated respiratory acidosis
D) Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
Correct Answer: Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
Rationale: The pH is low (7.28), indicating acidosis. The PaCO2 is elevated
(50 mm Hg), indicating a respiratory cause. The HCO3 is normal (26 mEq/L),
indicating no metabolic compensation. This is uncompensated respiratory
acidosis.
4. A client with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has ABG results showing pH 7.25,
PaCO2 30 mm Hg, and HCO3 16 mEq/L. This represents which acid-base
imbalance?
A) Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
B) Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
C) Fully compensated metabolic acidosis
D) Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
Correct Answer: Partially compensated metabolic acidosis
Rationale: The pH is low (7.25), indicating acidosis. The HCO3 is low (16
mEq/L), indicating a metabolic cause. The PaCO2 is low (30 mm Hg),
indicating the respiratory system is attempting to compensate by blowing off
CO2. Because the pH is still abnormal, this is partially compensated
metabolic acidosis.
,5. A client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is at risk for
which acid-base imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Respiratory alkalosis
C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: Clients with COPD retain carbon dioxide due to impaired gas
exchange, leading to respiratory acidosis. The elevated PaCO2 decreases pH,
resulting in acidosis. Respiratory alkalosis is associated with hyperventilation.
6. A client who is hyperventilating due to anxiety is at risk for which acid-
base imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Respiratory alkalosis
C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: Respiratory alkalosis
Rationale: Hyperventilation causes excessive loss of carbon dioxide, leading
to respiratory alkalosis. The decreased PaCO2 increases pH. This is a
common cause of respiratory alkalosis.
7. A client with severe diarrhea is at risk for which acid-base imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Respiratory alkalosis
, C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: Metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Severe diarrhea causes loss of bicarbonate from the
gastrointestinal tract, leading to metabolic acidosis. The loss of bicarbonate
decreases the pH, resulting in acidosis.
8. A client who has been vomiting for several days is at risk for which acid-
base imbalance?
A) Respiratory acidosis
B) Respiratory alkalosis
C) Metabolic acidosis
D) Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of gastric acid (hydrochloric acid), leading to
metabolic alkalosis. The loss of hydrogen ions increases the pH, resulting in
alkalosis. This is a classic cause of metabolic alkalosis.
9. A nurse is assessing a client with metabolic acidosis. Which respiratory
pattern would the nurse expect?
A) Hypoventilation and shallow breathing
B) Kussmaul's respirations (deep, rapid breathing)
C) Cheyne-Stokes respirations
D) Apneustic breathing
