A nurse caring for a client with a pulmonary embolism expects to find which diagnostic result? A) Patchy infiltrates on chest x-ray B) Metabolic alkalosis on arterial blood gas C) Elevated CO₂ level found on end-tidal carbon dioxide monitor D) Tachycardia and nonspecific T-wave changes on EKG

Question

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A) With pulmonary embolism, tachycardia and nonspecific T-wave changes occur on EKG. The client with a pulmonary embolism will likely have respiratory alkalosis from rapid breathing, not metabolic alkalosis. The end-tidal carbon dioxide monitor (EtCO₂) will be decreased, not increased, due to rapid breathing. B) With pulmonary embolism, tachycardia and nonspecific T-wave changes occur on EKG. The client with a pulmonary embolism will likely have respiratory alkalosis from rapid breathing, not metabolic alkalosis. The end-tidal carbon dioxide monitor (EtCO₂) will be decreased, not increased, due to rapid breathing. C) With pulmonary embolism, tachycardia and nonspecific T-wave changes occur on EKG. The client with a pulmonary embolism will likely have respiratory alkalosis from rapid breathing, not metabolic alkalosis. The end-tidal carbon dioxide monitor (EtCO₂) will be decreased, not increased, due to rapid breathing. D) With pulmonary embolism, tachycardia and nonspecific T-wave changes occur on EKG. The client with a pulmonary embolism will likely have respiratory alkalosis from rapid breathing, not metabolic alkalosis. The end-tidal carbon dioxide monitor (EtCO₂) will be decreased, not increased, due to rapid breathing.

A Nurse Caring for a Client with a Pulmonary Embolism