NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
CHAPTER 38
Acid-Base Imbalances
1. A nurse is caring for a client admitted with confusion and lethargy. The client was found at
home unresponsive with an empty bottle of aspirin lying next to the bed. Vital signs reveal blood
pressure 104/72 mm Hg, heart rate 116/min with regular rhythm, and respiratory rate 42/min and
deep. Which of the following arterial blood gas findings should the nurse expect?
A. pH 7.68 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 28 mEq/L.
B. pH 7.48 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 28 mm Hg HCO3 − 23 mEq/L.
C. pH 6.98 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 − 18 mEq/L.
D. pH 7.58 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 29 mEq/L.
answer: pH 6.98 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 − 18 mEq/L.
An aspirin toxicity would result in arterial blood gas findings of metabolic acidosis.
pH 7.68 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 28 mEq/L.
These arterial blood gases indicate metabolic alkalosis.
pH 7.48 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 28 mm Hg HCO3 − 23 mEq/L.
These arterial blood gases indicate respiratory alkalosis.
pH 7.58 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 29 mEq/L
NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
,NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
These arterial blood gases indicate metabolic alkalosis.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who was in a motor-vehicle accident. The client reports chest
pain and difficulty breathing. A chest x-ray reveals the client has a pneumothorax. Which of the
following arterial blood gas findings should the nurse expect?
A. pH 7.06 PaO2 86 mm Hg PaCO2 52 mm Hg HCO3 − 24 mEq/L.
B. pH 7.42 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 23 mEq/L.
C. pH 6.98 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 − 18 mEq/L.
D. pH 7.58 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 29 mEq/L.
answer: pH 7.06 PaO2 86 mm Hg PaCO2 52 mm Hg HCO3 − 24 mEq/L.
A pneumothorax can cause alveolar hypoventilation and increased carbon dioxide levels,
resulting in a state of respiratory acidosis.
pH 7.42 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 23 mEq/L.
These ABGs are within the expected reference range and reflect homeostasis.
pH 6.98 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 − 18 mEq/L.
Metabolic acidosis is not indicated for this client.
pH 7.58 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 29 mEq/L.
Metabolic alkalosis is not indicated for this client.
NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
,NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
3. A nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gases for a client who has vomited for 24 hr. The
nurse should expect which of the following acid-base imbalances to result from vomiting for 24
hr?
A. Respiratory acidosis.
B. Respiratory alkalosis.
C. Metabolic acidosis.
D. Metabolic alkalosis.
answer: Metabolic alkalosis.
Excessive vomiting causes a loss of gastric acids and an accumulation of bicarbonate in the
blood, resulting in metabolic alkalosis.
Respiratory acidosis is not indicated for this client.
Respiratory alkalosis is not indicated for this client.
Metabolic acidosis is not indicated for this client.
4. A nurse is assisting with the delivery of an educational activity for nurses on the unit
about conditions related to metabolic acidosis. Which of the following statements by a unit
nurse indicates the teaching has been effective?
A. “Metabolic acidosis can occur due to diabetic ketoacidosis.”
B. “Metabolic acidosis can occur in a client who has myasthenia gravis.”
C. “Metabolic acidosis can occur in a client who has asthma.”
NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
, NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
D. “Metabolic acidosis can occur due to stroke.”
answer: “Metabolic acidosis can occur due to diabetic ketoacidosis.”
Metabolic acidosis results from an excess production of hydrogen ions, which occurs in diabetic
ketoacidosis.
Respiratory acidosis can occur in a client who has myasthenia gravis.
Respiratory acidosis can occur in a client who has asthma.
Respiratory acidosis can occur due to stroke.
5. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has pancreatitis. The client’s arterial blood gases
reveal metabolic acidosis. Which of the following are expected findings? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Tachycardia.
B. Hypertension.
C. Bounding pulses.
D. Hyperreflexia.
E. Dysrhythmia.
F. Tachypnea.
answer: Dysrhythmia.
Dysrhythmia is an expected finding in a client who has pancreatitis and metabolic acidosis.
Tachypnea.
NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
CHAPTER 38
Acid-Base Imbalances
1. A nurse is caring for a client admitted with confusion and lethargy. The client was found at
home unresponsive with an empty bottle of aspirin lying next to the bed. Vital signs reveal blood
pressure 104/72 mm Hg, heart rate 116/min with regular rhythm, and respiratory rate 42/min and
deep. Which of the following arterial blood gas findings should the nurse expect?
A. pH 7.68 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 28 mEq/L.
B. pH 7.48 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 28 mm Hg HCO3 − 23 mEq/L.
C. pH 6.98 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 − 18 mEq/L.
D. pH 7.58 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 29 mEq/L.
answer: pH 6.98 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 − 18 mEq/L.
An aspirin toxicity would result in arterial blood gas findings of metabolic acidosis.
pH 7.68 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 28 mEq/L.
These arterial blood gases indicate metabolic alkalosis.
pH 7.48 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 28 mm Hg HCO3 − 23 mEq/L.
These arterial blood gases indicate respiratory alkalosis.
pH 7.58 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 29 mEq/L
NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
,NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
These arterial blood gases indicate metabolic alkalosis.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who was in a motor-vehicle accident. The client reports chest
pain and difficulty breathing. A chest x-ray reveals the client has a pneumothorax. Which of the
following arterial blood gas findings should the nurse expect?
A. pH 7.06 PaO2 86 mm Hg PaCO2 52 mm Hg HCO3 − 24 mEq/L.
B. pH 7.42 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 23 mEq/L.
C. pH 6.98 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 − 18 mEq/L.
D. pH 7.58 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 29 mEq/L.
answer: pH 7.06 PaO2 86 mm Hg PaCO2 52 mm Hg HCO3 − 24 mEq/L.
A pneumothorax can cause alveolar hypoventilation and increased carbon dioxide levels,
resulting in a state of respiratory acidosis.
pH 7.42 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 23 mEq/L.
These ABGs are within the expected reference range and reflect homeostasis.
pH 6.98 PaO2 100 mm Hg PaCO2 30 mm Hg HCO3 − 18 mEq/L.
Metabolic acidosis is not indicated for this client.
pH 7.58 PaO2 96 mm Hg PaCO2 38 mm Hg HCO3 − 29 mEq/L.
Metabolic alkalosis is not indicated for this client.
NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
,NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
3. A nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gases for a client who has vomited for 24 hr. The
nurse should expect which of the following acid-base imbalances to result from vomiting for 24
hr?
A. Respiratory acidosis.
B. Respiratory alkalosis.
C. Metabolic acidosis.
D. Metabolic alkalosis.
answer: Metabolic alkalosis.
Excessive vomiting causes a loss of gastric acids and an accumulation of bicarbonate in the
blood, resulting in metabolic alkalosis.
Respiratory acidosis is not indicated for this client.
Respiratory alkalosis is not indicated for this client.
Metabolic acidosis is not indicated for this client.
4. A nurse is assisting with the delivery of an educational activity for nurses on the unit
about conditions related to metabolic acidosis. Which of the following statements by a unit
nurse indicates the teaching has been effective?
A. “Metabolic acidosis can occur due to diabetic ketoacidosis.”
B. “Metabolic acidosis can occur in a client who has myasthenia gravis.”
C. “Metabolic acidosis can occur in a client who has asthma.”
NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
, NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
D. “Metabolic acidosis can occur due to stroke.”
answer: “Metabolic acidosis can occur due to diabetic ketoacidosis.”
Metabolic acidosis results from an excess production of hydrogen ions, which occurs in diabetic
ketoacidosis.
Respiratory acidosis can occur in a client who has myasthenia gravis.
Respiratory acidosis can occur in a client who has asthma.
Respiratory acidosis can occur due to stroke.
5. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has pancreatitis. The client’s arterial blood gases
reveal metabolic acidosis. Which of the following are expected findings? (Select all that
apply.)
A. Tachycardia.
B. Hypertension.
C. Bounding pulses.
D. Hyperreflexia.
E. Dysrhythmia.
F. Tachypnea.
answer: Dysrhythmia.
Dysrhythmia is an expected finding in a client who has pancreatitis and metabolic acidosis.
Tachypnea.
NURSING PN44 MS ATI BOOK IV BEST EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
