Final answer:
A nurse should expect to find a PaO2 of 58 mm Hg (Option D) in a client with acute respiratory failure, indicating hypoxemia, which falls below the normal arterial blood gas reference values and is consistent with this condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse in the emergency department who is caring for a client experiencing acute respiratory failure should expect certain laboratory findings indicative of this condition.
The lab findings for acute respiratory failure often demonstrate alterations in blood gases, such as arterial pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), and oxygen saturation (SaO2).
In this condition, we are looking for evidence of either hypoxemia (low oxygen in the blood) or hypercapnia (excess carbon dioxide in the blood), which can lead to acidosis.
The normal reference values for arterial blood are: pH: 7.35-7.45; PaCO2: males 35-48 mm Hg, females 32-45 mm Hg; and total venous bicarbonate: 22-29 mM.
In the case of respiratory failure, one would typically see a PaO2 less than normal, indicating hypoxemia, or a PaCO2 higher than normal, suggesting hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis.
Among the given options, PaO2 58 mm Hg is indicative of acute respiratory failure, as this value is below the expected normal range, suggesting inadequate oxygenation of the blood (hypoxemia).
Hence, the correct answer is Option D.