The nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gas of a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The results of the gas are: pH 7.34, CO2 55, PaO2 70, HCO3 28. What action should the nurse take?
1. Place the client on 10 L of oxygen.
2. Notify the charge nurse immediately.
3. Nothing; this is a normal gas for this client.
4. Notify the physician.
Answer: 3
1. In clients with chronic high CO2, a lower PaO2 level is the client's stimulus to breathe. Giving oxygen will risk respiratory failure in the client.
2. This is a normal gas for the client with COPD; the charge nurse is not notified.
3. This is a normal gas for this client.
4. Since this is the expected result, the physician is not notified.
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