A client is admitted to a medical-surgical unit with acidosis. During treatment, the client develops confusion, irritability, slow respiration rate, and vomiting. What does the nurse attribute these symptoms to?

Question

1. Increased blood pressure
2. Overtreatment of acidosis
3. Worsening of acidosis
4. Expected response to treatment

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2

Rationale 1: Increased blood pressure is incorrect. The client is developing symptoms of alkalosis.
Rationale 2: Most of the adverse effects of sodium bicarbonate therapy are the result of alkalosis caused by too much bicarbonate ion. Symptoms can include confusion, irritability, slow respiration rate, and vomiting. Simply discontinuing the sodium bicarbonate infusion often reverses these symptoms; however, potassium chloride or ammonium chloride may be administered to reverse the alkalosis.
Rationale 3: Worsening of acid is incorrect. The client is developing symptoms of alkalosis.
Rationale 4: Expected response to treatment is incorrect. The client is developing symptoms of alkalosis.

Global Rationale: Most of the adverse effects of sodium bicarbonate therapy are the result of alkalosis caused by too much bicarbonate ion. Symptoms can include confusion, irritability, slow respiration rate, and vomiting. Simply discontinuing the sodium bicarbonate infusion often reverses these symptoms; however, potassium chloride or ammonium chloride may be administered to reverse the alkalosis. Increased blood pressure is incorrect. The client is developing symptoms of alkalosis. Worsening of acid is incorrect. The client is developing symptoms of alkalosis. Expected response to treatment is incorrect. The client is developing symptoms of alkalosis.