Practice Quiz

NCLEX-RN

Category - Physiological

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A nurse is caring for a newly admitted 34-year-old client who was taken to the hospital because of alcohol withdrawal. For the last 12 hours, the client has had a temperature of 39.4°C, and has been severely agitated and confused. The client’s laboratory results are as follows: pH 7.20, PaCO2 46 mmHg, HCO3 13. This clearly indicates which acid-based disorder?
  1. Acidosis, metabolic
  2. Alkalosis, respiratory
  3. Acidosis, respiratory
  4. Alkalosis, metabolic
Explanation
Answer: A - Based on the medical history, the nurse can deduce that the client with alcohol withdrawal may also have metabolic acidosis. In addition, the pH level is below 7.4 and bicarbonate is below 24mEq/L. Typically, a client with alcohol withdrawal may subsequently suffer from metabolic alkalosis resulting from vomiting or nasogastric suctioning. Metabolic acidosis is treated by IV bicarbonate therapy to restore the acid-base balance.
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