Question 1

George Kent is a 54 year old widower with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease and was rushed to the emergency department with increasing shortness of breath,
pyrexia, and a productive cough with yellow-green sputum. He has difficulty in
communicating because of his inability to complete a sentence. One of his sons, Jacob,
says he has been unwell for three days. Upon examination, crackles and wheezes can be
heard in the lower lobes; he has a tachycardia and a bounding pulse. Measurement of
arterial blood gas shows pH 7.3, PaCO2 68 mm Hg, HCO3 28 mmol/L, and PaO2 60 mm
Hg. How would you interpret this?

Question 2
Carl, an elementary student, was rushed to the hospital due to vomiting and a decreased
level of consciousness. The patient displays slow and deep (Kussmaul breathing), and he is
lethargic and irritable in response to stimulation. He appears to be dehydratedhis eyes
are sunken and mucous membranes are dryand he has a two week history of polydipsia,
polyuria, and weight loss. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.0, PaO2 90 mm
Hg, PaCO2 23 mm Hg, and HCO3 12 mmol/L; other results are Na+ 126 mmol/L, K+ 5
mmol/L, and Cl- 95 mmol/L. What is your assessment?

Question 3
A cigarette vendor was brought to the emergency department of a hospital after she fell into
the ground and hurt her left leg. She is noted to be tachycardic and tachypneic. Painkillers
were carried out to lessen her pain. Suddenly, she started complaining that she is still in
pain and now experiencing muscle cramps, tingling, and paraesthesia. Measurement of
arterial blood gas reveals pH 7.6, PaO2 120 mm Hg, PaCO2 31 mm Hg, and HCO3 25
mmol/L. What does this mean?

Question 4
Rickys grandmother is suffering from persistent vomiting for two days now. She appears to
be lethargic and weak and has myalgia. She is noted to have dry mucus membranes and
her capillary refill takes >4 seconds. She is diagnosed as having gastroenteritis and
dehydration. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.5, PaO2 85 mm Hg, PaCO2 40
mm Hg, and HCO3 34 mmol/L. What acid-base disorder is shown?

Question 5
Mrs. Johansson, who had undergone surgery in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), is
difficult to arouse two hours following surgery. Nurse Florence in the PACU has been
administering Morphine Sulfate intravenously to the client for complaints of post-surgical
pain. The clients respiratory rate is 7 per minute and demonstrates shallow breathing. The
patient does not respond to any stimuli! The nurse assesses the ABCs (remember Airway,
Breathing, Circulation!) and obtains ABGs STAT! Measurement of arterial blood gas shows
pH 7.10, PaCO2 70 mm Hg and HCO3 24 mEq/L. What does this mean?

Question 6
Baby Angela was rushed to the Emergency Room following her mothers complaint that the
infant has been irritable, difficult to breastfeed and has had diarrhea for the past 3 days. The
infants respiratory rate is elevated and the fontanels are sunken. The Emergency Room
physician orders ABGs after assessing the ABCs. The results from the ABG results show
pH 7.39, PaCO2 27 mmHg and HCO3 19 mEq/L. What does this mean?

Question 7
Mr. Wales, who underwent post-abdominal surgery, has a nasogastric tube. The nurse on
duty notes that the nasogastric tube (NGT) is draining a large amount (900 cc in 2 hours) of
coffee ground secretions. The client is not oriented to person, place, or time. The nurse
contacts the attending physician and STAT ABGs are ordered. The results from the ABGs
show pH 7.57, PaCO2 37 mmHg and HCO3 30 mEq/L. What is your assessment?

Question 8
Client Z is admitted to the hospital and is to undergo brain surgery. The client is very
anxious and scared of the upcoming surgery. He begins to hyperventilate and becomes
very dizzy. The client loses consciousness and the STAT ABGs reveal pH 7.61, PaCO2 22
mmHg and HCO3 25 mEq/L. What is the ABG interpretation based on the findings?

Question 9
Three-year-old Adrian is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of asthma and respiratory
distress syndrome. The mother of the child reports to the nurse on duty that she has
witnessed slight tremors and behavioral changes in her child over the past four days. The
attending physician orders routine ABGs following an assessment of the ABCs. The ABG
results are pH 7.35, PaCO2 72 mmHg and HCO3 38 mEq/L. What acid-base disorder is
shown?

Question 10
Anne, who is drinking beer at a party, falls and hits her head on the ground. Her friend Liza
dials 911 because Anne is unconscious, depressed ventilation (shallow and slow
respirations), rapid heart rate, and is profusely bleeding from both ears. Which primary acidbase imbalance is Anne at risk for if medical attention is not provided?

Question 11
George Kent is a 54 year old widower with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease and was rushed to the emergency department with increasing shortness of breath,
pyrexia, and a productive cough with yellow-green sputum. He has difficulty in
communicating because of his inability to complete a sentence. One of his sons, Jacob,
says he has been unwell for three days. Upon examination, crackles and wheezes can be
heard in the lower lobes; he has a tachycardia and a bounding pulse. Measurement of
arterial blood gas shows pH 7.3, PaCO2 68 mm Hg, HCO3 28 mmol/L, and PaO2 60 mm
Hg. How would you interpret this?

Question 12
Carl, an elementary student, was rushed to the hospital due to vomiting and a decreased
level of consciousness. The patient displays slow and deep (Kussmaul breathing), and he is
lethargic and irritable in response to stimulation. He appears to be dehydratedhis eyes
are sunken and mucous membranes are dryand he has a two week history of polydipsia,
polyuria, and weight loss. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.0, PaO2 90 mm
Hg, PaCO2 23 mm Hg, and HCO3 12 mmol/L; other results are Na+ 126 mmol/L, K+ 5
mmol/L, and Cl- 95 mmol/L. What is your assessment?

Question 13
A cigarette vendor was brought to the emergency department of a hospital after she fell into
the ground and hurt her left leg. She is noted to be tachycardic and tachypneic. Painkillers
were carried out to lessen her pain. Suddenly, she started complaining that she is still in
pain and now experiencing muscle cramps, tingling, and paraesthesia. Measurement of
arterial blood gas reveals pH 7.6, PaO2 120 mm Hg, PaCO2 31 mm Hg, and HCO3 25
mmol/L. What does this mean?

Question 14
Rickys grandmother is suffering from persistent vomiting for two days now. She appears to
be lethargic and weak and has myalgia. She is noted to have dry mucus membranes and
her capillary refill takes >4 seconds. She is diagnosed as having gastroenteritis and
dehydration. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.5, PaO2 85 mm Hg, PaCO2 40
mm Hg, and HCO3 34 mmol/L. What acid-base disorder is shown?

Question 15
Mrs. Johansson, who had undergone surgery in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), is
difficult to arouse two hours following surgery. Nurse Florence in the PACU has been
administering Morphine Sulfate intravenously to the client for complaints of post-surgical
pain. The clients respiratory rate is 7 per minute and demonstrates shallow breathing. The
patient does not respond to any stimuli! The nurse assesses the ABCs (remember Airway,

Breathing, Circulation!) and obtains ABGs STAT! Measurement of arterial blood gas shows
pH 7.10, PaCO2 70 mm Hg and HCO3 24 mEq/L. What does this mean?

Question 16
Baby Angela was rushed to the Emergency Room following her mothers complaint that the
infant has been irritable, difficult to breastfeed and has had diarrhea for the past 3 days. The
infants respiratory rate is elevated and the fontanels are sunken. The Emergency Room
physician orders ABGs after assessing the ABCs. The results from the ABG results show
pH 7.39, PaCO2 27 mmHg and HCO3 19 mEq/L. What does this mean?

Question 17
Mr. Wales, who underwent post-abdominal surgery, has a nasogastric tube. The nurse on
duty notes that the nasogastric tube (NGT) is draining a large amount (900 cc in 2 hours) of
coffee ground secretions. The client is not oriented to person, place, or time. The nurse
contacts the attending physician and STAT ABGs are ordered. The results from the ABGs
show pH 7.57, PaCO2 37 mmHg and HCO3 30 mEq/L. What is your assessment?

Question 18
Client Z is admitted to the hospital and is to undergo brain surgery. The client is very
anxious and scared of the upcoming surgery. He begins to hyperventilate and becomes
very dizzy. The client loses consciousness and the STAT ABGs reveal pH 7.61, PaCO2 22
mmHg and HCO3 25 mEq/L. What is the ABG interpretation based on the findings?

Question 19
Three-year-old Adrian is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of asthma and respiratory
distress syndrome. The mother of the child reports to the nurse on duty that she has
witnessed slight tremors and behavioral changes in her child over the past four days. The
attending physician orders routine ABGs following an assessment of the ABCs. The ABG
results are pH 7.35, PaCO2 72 mmHg and HCO3 38 mEq/L. What acid-base disorder is
shown?

Question 20
Anne, who is drinking beer at a party, falls and hits her head on the ground. Her friend Liza
dials 911 because Anne is unconscious, depressed ventilation (shallow and slow
respirations), rapid heart rate, and is profusely bleeding from both ears. Which primary acidbase imbalance is Anne at risk for if medical attention is not provided?

Test 3
pH 7.57, PaCO2 22, HCO3- 17 Respiratory Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
pH 7.55, PaCO2 25, HCO3- 22 Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
pH 7.17, PaCO2 48, HCO3- 36 Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
pH 7.34, PaCO2 24, HCO3- 20 Metabolic Acidosis, Partially Compensated
pH 7.64, PaCO2 25, HCO3- 19 Respiratory Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
pH 7.45, PaCO2 50, HCO3- 30 Metabolic Alkalosis, Fully Compensated
pH 7.6, PaCO2 53, HCO3- 38 Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
pH 7.5, PaCO2 19, HCO3- 22 Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
pH 7.4, PaCO2 59, HCO3- 35 Respiratory Acidosis, Fully Compensated