Question

A patient in the progressive stage of shock has rapid, deep respirations. The nurse determines that the patient's hyperventilation is compensating for a metabolic acidosis when the patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) results include which results?

a. pH 7.42, PaO2 80 mm Hg
b. pH 7.48, PaO2 69 mm Hg
c. pH 7.38, PaCO2 30 mm Hg
d. pH 7.32, PaCO2 48 mm Hg

Answer 1

The nurse can determine that the patient's hyperventilation is compensating for a metabolic acidosis by looking at the patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) results.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse can determine that the patient's hyperventilation is compensating for a metabolic acidosis by looking at the patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) results. In this case, the correct result would be option d: pH 7.32, PaCO2 48 mm Hg. A pH value lower than 7.35 indicates acidosis, and a PaCO2 value higher than 40 mm Hg indicates that the respiratory system is trying to compensate for the acidosis by retaining carbon dioxide.