Four hours after mechanical ventilation is initiated for a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ), the patient's arterial blood gas ( ABG ) results include a pH of 7.50, PaO₂of 80 mm Hg, PaCO₂ of 29 mm Hg, and HCO₃- of 23 mEq/L ( 23 mmol/L ). The nurse will anticipate the need to

Question

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The patient's PaCO₂ and pH indicate respiratory alkalosis caused by too high a respiratory rate. The PaO₂ is appropriate for a patient with COPD, increasing the tidal volume would further lower the PaCO₂, and the PaCO₂ and pH indicate a need to make the ventilator changes.

Four Hours After Mechanical Ventilation Is Initiated for a Patient