The nurse is caring for a patient with gastroenteritis who has been vomiting for 48 hours
A family member of the patient asks the nurse, "Why is he breathing that way?" What is the nurse's most accurate response after explaining the meaning of pH? "He is breathing
a. Fast and deep to help reduce carbon dioxide to increase his pH"
b. Slow and shallow to try to retain carbon dioxide to decrease his pH"
c. Fast and deep to help reduce carbon dioxide to decrease his pH"
d. Slow and shallow to try to retain carbon dioxide to increase his pH"
B
The patient's history suggests metabolic alkalosis (due to loss of acid in the stomach resulting from vomiting) so the patient is likely to have decreased respiratory rate and depth as a means of retaining carbon dioxide and decreasing his pH. Because the patient has metabolic alkalosis, his breathing is more likely to be slow and shallow, so both statements beginning with "He is breathing fast and deep" to affect his pH are incorrect. In metabolic alkalosis, the pH is too high; trying to increasing the pH by breathing slow and shallow would not be desirable, even if it were possible.
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A. This medication usually requires titration. B. The adverse effects can be managed well. C. Relaxation exercises can offer some relief. D. A therapeutic effect can be expected in another 2 to 4 weeks