Final answer:
The patient's blood gas results reveal metabolic acidosis with partial respiratory compensation. The nurse should administer intravenous sodium bicarbonate to correct the acidosis. Morphine and cancelling dialysis are not appropriate; mechanical ventilation may be considered if respiration worsens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient's arterial blood gas results indicate a pH of 7.19, which is below the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45, suggesting acidosis. Given that the pCO₂ is at 30 mm Hg (below the normal range of 35-45 mm Hg for a female and 35-48 mm Hg for a male) and bicarbonate (HCO³⁻) is at 13 mEq/L (below the normal range of 22-29 mM), this points to metabolic acidosis with partial respiratory compensation as the body attempts to correct the acidic state by hyperventilating (which would lower the pCO₂ level).
Considering the clinical situation, the nurse should administer intravenous sodium bicarbonate to help correct the metabolic acidosis. Options a and d would not be appropriate as morphine may further depress the respiratory rate potentially exacerbating acidosis, and cancelling dialysis could allow for the accumulation of toxins and worsening of the acidosis. Option b might be necessary if the patient's respiratory condition deteriorates further, but at this time, the priority is to address the primary metabolic derangement.
Furthermore, in the context of dialysis, it is important to carefully manage the patient's acid-base balance, as dialysis can affect this equilibrium. In acute kidney injury, dialysis helps in removing excess acids from the blood when the kidneys are not able to perform this function efficiently. The dialysis sessions should be tailored according to the patient's metabolic needs and acid-base status.