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NCLEX-PN Exam Practice

Category - Respiratory

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You have drawn an arterial blood gas on your patient. In reviewing the results you note the following: pH 7.45, PCO2 of 30 mm Hg, and bicarbonate of 22mEq/L. What do you interpret these results to mean?

Metabolic acidosis, compensated
Metabolic alkalosis, compensated
Respiratory acidosis, compensated
Respiratory alkalosis, compensated

Explanation

Answer: C - The arterial blood gas results are indicative of respiratory alkalosis, compensated. In a respiratory condition, pH and PCO2 will display opposite effects. In this instance the patientï¿½s pH is at the high end of normal, and PCO2 is low. Compensation occurs when the pH is starting to return to normal, while the PCO2 remains low.

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