Question

A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who is experiencing acute respiratory failure. Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse expect?

A. Arterial pH 7.50
B. PaCO2 25 mmHg
C. SaO2 92%
D. PaO2 58 mm Hg

Answer 1

The nurse should expect to find a PaO2 of 58 mm Hg in a client with acute respiratory failure, as this indicates hypoxemia and is below the normal reference range for arterial blood gases, which typically should be above 80 mmHg.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the case of a client experiencing acute respiratory failure, the nurse in the emergency department should expect specific laboratory findings that deviate from normal blood gas values. One such finding could be a reduced partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2). Normal reference values for arterial blood gases state that the PaO2 should be above 80 mmHg. In the context of respiratory failure, a PaO2 value of 58 mmHg is indicative of hypoxemia and would therefore be a likely finding. Other findings associated with respiratory failure may include elevated carbon dioxide levels (pCO2) or altered blood pH, indicating respiratory acidosis or alkalosis. These imbalances reveal whether the issue is metabolic or respiratory in origin, and whether the patient's body is compensating for the imbalance. For clients with acute respiratory failure, it is not uncommon to see altered pH and pCO2 levels alongside hypoxemia.