Receiving a client's ABG report with pH of 7.40, PaCO2 of 55 mm Hg, and bicarbonate level of 20 mEq/L, the nurse interprets these values to indicate
a. erroneous blood gas data.
b. metabolic alkalosis.
c. mixed acid-base disorder.
d. respiratory alkalosis.
A
The nurse should suspect sampling error or transcription error when the reported values lack in-ternal consistency or external congruity. Internal consistency means that the values make sense when considered as a whole. External congruity means that the ABG findings are consistent with other laboratory data and with clinical assessment findings. In this case the PaCO2 is high, indi-cating an acidotic state. The pH is within normal range, which would indicate compensation, ex-cept the bicarbonate level is actually low, showing that no compensation is occurring to maintain normal pH in the presence of a high PaCO2 . This would lead the nurse to conclude that the ABG results are in error.
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