Physiological Adaptation Flashcards
6 cards from real RN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Physiological Adaptation flashcards as text
A patient with COPD has a PaO2 of 55 mmHg and PaCO2 of 60 mmHg on arterial blood gas. How should the nurse interpret this?
Answer: Respiratory acidosis with hypoxemia
Elevated PaCO2 (>45 mmHg) indicates CO2 retention and respiratory acidosis; PaO2 below 60 mmHg confirms hypoxemia, both characteristic of COPD exacerbation.
Which nursing action is most appropriate for a patient experiencing status epilepticus?
Answer: Turn the patient to the side and time the seizure
Positioning the patient laterally prevents aspiration and protects the airway; timing the seizure provides critical data for treatment decisions.
A patient with heart failure has crackles in bilateral lung bases, JVD, and peripheral edema. The nurse recognizes these as signs of:
Answer: Both right- and left-sided heart failure
Bilateral crackles and orthopnea indicate left-sided failure (pulmonary congestion), while JVD and peripheral edema indicate right-sided failure (systemic congestion).
A nurse is caring for a patient with increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Which position is most appropriate?
Answer: Head of bed elevated 30 degrees with head midline
Elevating the head of the bed 30 degrees with the head in midline promotes venous drainage from the brain, reducing ICP.
Which assessment finding is most concerning in a patient 24 hours after a spinal cord injury at C5?
Answer: Blood pressure of 98/60 mmHg with bradycardia
Hypotension with bradycardia after a high spinal cord injury suggests neurogenic shock due to loss of sympathetic tone, which is a medical emergency.
A patient with liver cirrhosis develops sudden onset confusion, asterixis, and fetor hepaticus. The nurse should prepare to administer:
Answer: Lactulose
These signs indicate hepatic encephalopathy; lactulose is administered to reduce ammonia absorption by acidifying the colon and promoting bowel elimination.