• wonderlic tests
  • EXAM REVIEW
  • NCCCO Examination
  • Summary
  • Class notes
  • QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
  • NCLEX EXAM
  • Exam (elaborations)
  • Study guide
  • Latest nclex materials
  • HESI EXAMS
  • EXAMS AND CERTIFICATIONS
  • HESI ENTRANCE EXAM
  • ATI EXAM
  • NR AND NUR Exams
  • Gizmos
  • PORTAGE LEARNING
  • Ihuman Case Study
  • LETRS
  • NURS EXAM
  • NSG Exam
  • Testbanks
  • Vsim
  • Latest WGU
  • AQA PAPERS AND MARK SCHEME
  • DMV
  • WGU EXAM
  • exam bundles
  • Study Material
  • Study Notes
  • Test Prep

ACID BASE BALANCE - 2.If the pH and the Bicarb are in different dir...

NCLEX EXAM Dec 14, 2025 ★★★★★ (5.0/5)
Loading...

Loading document viewer...

Page 0 of 0

Document Text

ACID BASE BALANCE

RULE OF THE B’S

1.If the pH and the Bicarb are in the same direction  METABOLIC 2.If the pH and the Bicarb are in different directions  RESPIRATORY

Examples:

pH 7.25 (v) HCO3 20 (v) Metabolic Acidosis pH 7.21 (v)

HCO3 38 (^)

Respiratory Acidosis pH 7.50 (^)

HCO3 30 (^)

Metabolic Alkalosis pH 7.50 (^) HCO3 25 (normal) Respiratory Alkalosis (NORMAL) SIGNS & SYMPTOMS Know the principles, not the lists.

PRINCIPLE: “As the pH goes, so does my patient, except for potassium”

ALKALOSIS (^)ACIDOSIS (v) HyperreflexiaHeadache IrritabilityHyporeflexia TachypneaBradycardia TachycardiaBradypnea BorborygmiParalytic/adynamic ileus Seizures *need suctionComa HypokalemiaRespiratory arrest *need ambu bag HYPOkalemiaMACkussmau’s (ONLY METABOLIC

ACIDOSIS  “MAC”)

Heart block HYPERkalmia

CAUSES OF IMBALANCES



OVER-VENTILATINGUNDER-VENTILATING



RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS

Examples:

-Pregnant woman hyperventilating.-Ventilator setting is TOO HIGH.

Examples:

-Emphysema -Drowning -Pneumonia -PCA pump (toxicity) -Ventilator setting is TOO LOW.



PROLONGED SUCTIONING

OR VOMITING

ANYTHING ELSE!



METABOLIC Alkalosis METABOLIC Acidosis

Examples:

  • Surgery with NG tube suction for
  • days
  • -Hyperemesis gravidum

Examples:

-Acute RF -Infantile diarrhea -3 rd degree burns over 60% of body -Hyperemesis gravidum with dehydration

NOTE: Always pay attention to

MODIFYING PHRASE rather than original statement..

  • Is it a LUNG SCENARIO? YES. It is RESPIRATORY.
  • What if it is NOT A LUNG SCENARIO? It is METABOLIC

VENTILATORS AND ALARMS

HIGH PRESSURE ALARM

Ventilator is working too hard to get air into lungs. There is INCREASED RESISTANCE due to

OBSTRUCTIONS.

1.Kinks  unkink 2.Water condensing into dependent loops  empty 3.Mucus in airway  turn, cough and deep breathe, suction PRN.

LOW PRESSURE ALARM

Ventilator finds that it is working too easy to get air into lungs. There is DECREASED RESISTANCE due to DISCONNECTIONS.

1.Main tubing is disconnected  reconnect 2.Oxygen sensor tubing, which senses FiO2, is disconnected. This is the black coated wire  reconnect Question MD orders to disconnect ventilator in AM @ 0900hr. At 0600hr, ABC reveals respiratory acidosis. What do you do?a.Follow order b.Call MD and hold order c.Call RT d.Begin to decrease settings.B is the answer because the patient is not able to breathe without the ventilator. The settings are TOO low. Patient should be in respiratory ALKALOSIS.

ALCOHOLISM

#1 PROBLEM: DENIAL

Psychological problem in abuse is denial, which is refusal to accept the reality of a problem.Denial is the #1 problem in all abuse situations.It is #1 because how can you treat someone who can’t admit that they have a problem?You treat denial by confronting it by pointing out the difference between what they say and what they do.Confrontation attacks the problem. Aggression attacks the person.You say you’re not an alcohol, but it’s 10AM and you already drank a 6-pack.You say you’re not a spouse abuser, but she has a restraining order against you.They deny, you confront.Denial of loss + grief is different.Stages of Grief: DABDA: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance You want to support this type of denial.Guy lost one hand and wants to play piano. You do not tell him he can’t. You ask him more about piano.Pay attention to the question, is it loss or abuse?With loss you support. With abuse you confront.

#2 PROBLEM: DEPENDENCY VERSUS CODEPENDENCY

Dependency: Abuser gets significant other to do things for them. The abuser is dependent on others.Call in sick for me. Go buy me this. Drop me off here.Codependency: Significant other derives positive self-esteem from making decisions for or doing things for the abuser.Aren’t I such a great wife for calling in sick for you?

Abuser: Life without responsibility

Significant Other: Positive self esteem

Treatment:

Set limits and enforce them. Teach significant other to say NO.Work on self-esteem of the codependent person to solve the issue.oI’m saying no and I’m a good person because I’m saying no.May solve the problem but may lose relationship.

#3 PROBLEM: MANIPULATION

User Reviews

★★★★★ (5.0/5 based on 1 reviews)
Login to Review
S
Student
May 21, 2025
★★★★★

The practical examples offered by this document made learning easy. A outstanding purchase!

Download Document

Buy This Document

$1.00 One-time purchase
Buy Now
  • Full access to this document
  • Download anytime
  • No expiration

Document Information

Category: NCLEX EXAM
Added: Dec 14, 2025
Description:

ACID BASE BALANCE RULE OF THE B’S 1.If the pH and the Bicarb are in the same direction  METABOLIC 2.If the pH and the Bicarb are in different directions  RESPIRATORY Examples: pH 7.25 (v) H...

Unlock Now
$ 1.00