The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old client admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and who is becoming progressively more confused. Her vital signs are as follows: T, 101° F; P, 112 beats/min; R, 28 breaths/min; BP, 100/70 mm Hg
ABG results are pH 7.50, PaCO2 25 mm Hg, and bicarbonate level 18 mEq/L. The nurse interprets these findings to indicate a. metabolic acidosis secondary to fever.
b. metabolic alkalosis secondary to bicarbonate excess.
c. respiratory acidosis secondary to anxiety.
d. respiratory alkalosis secondary to hypoxemia.
D
Pneumonia is one cause of respiratory alkalosis, because the respiratory rate increases to com-pensate for hypoxemia, and excess "blowing off" of CO2 occurs.
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