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2 Minute EBP Challenge

Monday, January 30, 2012
Scrub the Hub
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that central venous catheter (CVC) hubs be scrubbed for how long?

Monday, January 23, 2012
Severe Sepsis and AF Risk
Up to 20% of patients with severe sepsis develop a new onset atrial fibrillation.  Which factor was not associated with increased risk?

Monday, January 16, 2012
Unreported Hospital Errors
In a recent study the Department of Health and Human Service reports that what percentage of hospital errors go unreported?

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  • Get tips, timesavers, and more from
    David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CMSRN, CEN

    Home > 2 Minute EBP Challenge > Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis

    Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis

    Monday, October 12, 2009
     

    Stay up-to-date the easy way!

    How would you answer this question?

    Evaluate the following ABG: pH 7.32, CO2 55, O2 125, HCO3 22, O2 Sat 94%:

    a. Uncompensated metabolic acidosis
    b. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis
    c. Compensated respiratory acidosis
    d. Compensated metabolic alkalosis

    The correct answer is "b" uncompensated respiratory acidosis.

    Using the "6 Easy Steps to ABG Analysis," to analyze the blood gas we get:
    Step 1: Analyze the pH
    The pH is less than 7.35 and is therefore acidotic.
    Step 2: Analyze the CO2
    The CO2 is greater than 45 and is therefore acidotic
    Step 3: Analyze the HCO3
    The HCO3 is normal
    Step 4: Which result matches the pH?
    The CO2 matches the pH, because they are both acidotic.  Therefore the primary problem is respiratory acidosis.
    Step 5: Does the CO2 or the HCO3 go opposite of the pH?
    Neither the CO2 or the HCO3 is alkalotic, therefore there is no compensation.
    Step 6: Analyze the oxygenation
    The PO2 is high indicating that the patient may be supplemental oxygen.  The oxygen saturation is slightly low.

    The full diagnosis for this ABG is: "Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis"

    Download a FREE copy of my "6 Easy Steps to ABG Analysis" e-book!

    Congratulations to Tricia Hill who won an autographed copy of my 101 Tips to Improve Your Nursing Care book for answering this week's question correctly.  Congratulations Tricia!  

    Best wishes,
    David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CEN
    President,     Ed4Nurses, Inc.

    PS. This week's question came from our Certified Emergency Nurse program.

    (c) 2009 Ed4Nurses, Inc.  Feel free to print this e-mail and share it with your colleagues. Other forms of digital or print reproduction are prohibited without prior written consent from Ed4Nurses, Inc.
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