NUR2243 MODULE 1 EAQS ACID–BASE BALANCE Q&A
WITH RATIONALES COMPLETE SOLUTION!!
1. Which laboratory finding indicates full compensation in a patient recovering
from diabetic ketoacidosis?
Answer: A normal arterial blood pH.
Rationale: Full compensation is achieved when the pH returns to the normal range,
even if other ABG values remain abnormal.
2. What is one common cause of acidosis?
Answer: Kidney failure.
Rationale: The kidneys normally excrete hydrogen ions and retain bicarbonate;
failure leads to acid retention and decreased buffering capacity.
3. ABG results show pH 7.48, HCO₃⁻ 26, PaO₂ 90, PaCO₂ 32. Which imbalance
is present?
Answer: Respiratory alkalosis.
Rationale: Elevated pH with low PaCO₂ indicates excess CO₂ elimination, typical
of respiratory alkalosis.
4. What goal helps a patient with diabetes prevent acid–base disturbances?
Answer: Maintaining blood glucose within normal limits.
Rationale: Poor glucose control increases the risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, a
serious metabolic acidosis.
,5. How does the body compensate for a low pH (acidosis)?
Answer: By increasing respiratory rate.
Rationale: Faster breathing expels more CO₂, reducing carbonic acid and raising
the pH.
6. As metabolic acidosis from diabetic ketoacidosis improves, which electrolyte
imbalance must the nurse watch for?
Answer: Hypokalemia.
Rationale: As acidosis resolves, potassium moves back into cells, lowering serum
potassium levels.
7. Which ABG values are consistent with metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: pH 7.49, HCO₃⁻ 32.
Rationale: Elevated pH with increased bicarbonate indicates a metabolic cause.
8. What should the nurse remember about fluids when caring for a patient with
metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Fluids with lower pH are more acidic.
Rationale: Understanding acidity helps the nurse anticipate how fluids may
influence acid–base balance.
9. ABG values: pH 7.32, HCO₃⁻ 24, PaO₂ 77, PaCO₂ 48. Which imbalance is
present?
Answer: Respiratory acidosis.
,Rationale: Low pH with an elevated PaCO₂ reflects impaired ventilation.
10. A hysterical, hyperventilating patient after trauma is at risk for which
imbalance?
Answer: Respiratory alkalosis.
Rationale: Rapid breathing causes excessive CO₂ loss, raising pH.
11. A patient with DKA has a pH of 7.21. What is the cause of this acidosis?
Answer: Increased breakdown of fatty acids.
Rationale: In DKA, lack of insulin triggers fat metabolism, producing acidic
ketones.
12. A patient with kidney failure and metabolic acidosis will show which
compensatory sign?
Answer: Rapid, deep breathing.
Rationale: The respiratory system compensates by blowing off CO₂ (Kussmaul
respirations).
13. Kussmaul respirations are expected in which situation?
Answer: Aspirin (salicylate) overdose.
, Rationale: Salicylates cause metabolic acidosis, which triggers deep and rapid
respirations to compensate.
14. A vomiting diabetic patient has ketonuria and deep, rapid respirations. What
process is occurring?
Answer: Respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis.
Rationale: The body attempts to correct the low pH by increasing ventilation to
eliminate CO₂.
15. Deep, rapid (Kussmaul) respirations are typical of which acid–base imbalance?
Answer: Metabolic acidosis.
Rationale: This breathing pattern is the classic compensatory response to metabolic
acidosis.
16. Which conditions increase the risk for metabolic alkalosis? (Select all that
apply.)
Answer:
Blood transfusions
Nasogastric suctioning
WITH RATIONALES COMPLETE SOLUTION!!
1. Which laboratory finding indicates full compensation in a patient recovering
from diabetic ketoacidosis?
Answer: A normal arterial blood pH.
Rationale: Full compensation is achieved when the pH returns to the normal range,
even if other ABG values remain abnormal.
2. What is one common cause of acidosis?
Answer: Kidney failure.
Rationale: The kidneys normally excrete hydrogen ions and retain bicarbonate;
failure leads to acid retention and decreased buffering capacity.
3. ABG results show pH 7.48, HCO₃⁻ 26, PaO₂ 90, PaCO₂ 32. Which imbalance
is present?
Answer: Respiratory alkalosis.
Rationale: Elevated pH with low PaCO₂ indicates excess CO₂ elimination, typical
of respiratory alkalosis.
4. What goal helps a patient with diabetes prevent acid–base disturbances?
Answer: Maintaining blood glucose within normal limits.
Rationale: Poor glucose control increases the risk for diabetic ketoacidosis, a
serious metabolic acidosis.
,5. How does the body compensate for a low pH (acidosis)?
Answer: By increasing respiratory rate.
Rationale: Faster breathing expels more CO₂, reducing carbonic acid and raising
the pH.
6. As metabolic acidosis from diabetic ketoacidosis improves, which electrolyte
imbalance must the nurse watch for?
Answer: Hypokalemia.
Rationale: As acidosis resolves, potassium moves back into cells, lowering serum
potassium levels.
7. Which ABG values are consistent with metabolic alkalosis?
Answer: pH 7.49, HCO₃⁻ 32.
Rationale: Elevated pH with increased bicarbonate indicates a metabolic cause.
8. What should the nurse remember about fluids when caring for a patient with
metabolic acidosis?
Answer: Fluids with lower pH are more acidic.
Rationale: Understanding acidity helps the nurse anticipate how fluids may
influence acid–base balance.
9. ABG values: pH 7.32, HCO₃⁻ 24, PaO₂ 77, PaCO₂ 48. Which imbalance is
present?
Answer: Respiratory acidosis.
,Rationale: Low pH with an elevated PaCO₂ reflects impaired ventilation.
10. A hysterical, hyperventilating patient after trauma is at risk for which
imbalance?
Answer: Respiratory alkalosis.
Rationale: Rapid breathing causes excessive CO₂ loss, raising pH.
11. A patient with DKA has a pH of 7.21. What is the cause of this acidosis?
Answer: Increased breakdown of fatty acids.
Rationale: In DKA, lack of insulin triggers fat metabolism, producing acidic
ketones.
12. A patient with kidney failure and metabolic acidosis will show which
compensatory sign?
Answer: Rapid, deep breathing.
Rationale: The respiratory system compensates by blowing off CO₂ (Kussmaul
respirations).
13. Kussmaul respirations are expected in which situation?
Answer: Aspirin (salicylate) overdose.
, Rationale: Salicylates cause metabolic acidosis, which triggers deep and rapid
respirations to compensate.
14. A vomiting diabetic patient has ketonuria and deep, rapid respirations. What
process is occurring?
Answer: Respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis.
Rationale: The body attempts to correct the low pH by increasing ventilation to
eliminate CO₂.
15. Deep, rapid (Kussmaul) respirations are typical of which acid–base imbalance?
Answer: Metabolic acidosis.
Rationale: This breathing pattern is the classic compensatory response to metabolic
acidosis.
16. Which conditions increase the risk for metabolic alkalosis? (Select all that
apply.)
Answer:
Blood transfusions
Nasogastric suctioning
