A client is admitted to the hospital with sudden, severe abdominal pain. The client is diagnosed with respiratory alkalosis. Which arterial blood gas value does the nurse document to support this diagnosis? A)pH is 7.33 and PaCO₂ is 36. B)pH is 7.51 and HCO₂ is 30. C)pH is 7.47 and PaCO₂ is 25. D)pH is 7.35 and PaO₂ is 88.

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A)Acute pain usually causes hyperventilation, which causes the PaCO₂ to drop and the client to experience respiratory alkalosis. The pH would denote alkalosis and would be higher than 7.45. HCO₃ would trend downward as the kidneys begin to compensate for the alkalosis by excreting HCO₃. The PaO₂ is likely to be normal unless the client has been hyperventilating for a long time and is beginning to tire. B)Acute pain usually causes hyperventilation, which causes the PaCO₂ to drop and the client to experience respiratory alkalosis. The pH would denote alkalosis and would be higher than 7.45. HCO₃ would trend downward as the kidneys begin to compensate for the alkalosis by excreting HCO₃. The PaO₂ is likely to be normal unless the client has been hyperventilating for a long time and is beginning to tire. C)Acute pain usually causes hyperventilation, which causes the PaCO₂ to drop and the client to experience respiratory alkalosis. The pH would denote alkalosis and would be higher than 7.45. HCO₃ would trend downward as the kidneys begin to compensate for the alkalosis by excreting HCO₃. The PaO₂ is likely to be normal unless the client has been hyperventilating for a long time and is beginning to tire. D)Acute pain usually causes hyperventilation, which causes the PaCO₂ to drop and the client to experience respiratory alkalosis. The pH would denote alkalosis and would be higher than 7.45. HCO₃ would trend downward as the kidneys begin to compensate for the alkalosis by excreting HCO₃. The PaO₂ is likely to be normal unless the client has been hyperventilating for a long time and is beginning to tire.

A Client Is Admitted to the Hospital with Sudden, Severe