A patient's arterial blood gas analysis shows a PaCO2 of 62 mm Hg. Which of the following actions is best?
a. Notify the RN; this is abnormally high.
b. Increase the flow rate of the patient's nasal oxygen.
c. No action is necessary; this is a normal PaCO2 level.
d. Have the patient breathe into a paper bag.
ANS: A
Normal PaCO2 is 35 to 45 mm Hg. 62 mm Hg is evidence of hypoventilation and the inability to excrete carbon dioxide. The RN or physician should be notified. Increasing nasal oxygen will not help CO2 excretion. Breathing into a paper bag will increase the CO2 level.
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