A newly graduated nurse is admitting a patient with a long history of emphysema. The new nurses preceptor is going over the patients past lab reports with the new nurse. The nurse takes note that the patients $\mathrm{PaCO}_{2}$ has been between 56 and $64 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}$ for several months. The preceptor asks the new nurse why they will be cautious administering oxygen. What is the new nurses best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When $\mathrm{PaCO}_{2}$ chronically exceeds $50 \mathrm{~mm} \mathrm{Hg}$, it creates insensitivity to $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ in the respiratory medulla, and the use of oxygen may result in the patient developing carbon dioxide narcosis and hypoxemia. No information indicates the patients calcium will rise dramatically due to pituitary stimulation. No feedback system that oxygen stimulates would create an increase in the patients intracranial pressure and create confusion. Increasing the oxygen would not stimulate the patient to hyperventilate and become acidotic; rather, it would cause hypoventilation and acidosis.

A Newly Graduated Nurse Is Admitting a Patient with a Long