Final answer:
During a physical assessment, a nurse is likely to observe an increased respiratory rate and depth in a client with impaired Gas Exchange, often accompanied by abnormal breath sounds and signs of hypoxemia like shortness of breath.
Step-by-step explanation:
When caring for a client diagnosed with Impaired Gas Exchange, the nurse is likely to find an increased respiratory rate and depth during a physical assessment. This is because, in conditions of impaired gas exchange, both respiratory rate and depth are controlled by the respiratory centers of the brain. These centers respond to chemical and pH changes in the blood, causing increased respirations to enhance the gas exchange process.
In cases of hypoxemia, where there is a lower-than-normal level of oxygen in the blood, the respiratory rate increases to try to bring more oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide. Auscultation may reveal abnormal breath sounds, such as crackles, indicating an underlying pathological condition like pneumonia. Clients may also exhibit signs like hypoxemia and shortness of breath, rather than a normal oxygen saturation of 98%, or a normal capillary refill time.