Free Practice Quiz Question List

3 Nursing Care for Acid–Base Imbalances Online Quiz Questions

Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 3 Nursing Care for Acid–Base Imbalances, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.

20 questions

True or false

1 point

True or false: A blood pH within the reference range rules out an acid–base disorder.

A
True
B
False

Written response

1 point

What term describes a measured blood pH below the reference range?

Fill in the blank

1 point

In the ROME mnemonic, respiratory changes move to pH, while metabolic changes move to pH.

True or false

1 point

True or false: In respiratory acidosis caused by inadequate ventilation, oxygen alone corrects the ventilation problem.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A patient with diarrhea has pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 32 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ 16 mEq/L. Which interpretation best fits these findings?

A
Primary respiratory alkalosis with metabolic compensation
B
Primary metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation
C
Primary respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation
D
Primary metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation

Written response

1 point

A postoperative patient who received opioids is difficult to arouse and breathing slowly. The ABG shows pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 58 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ 26 mEq/L. What is the primary acid–base disorder?

Choose one

1 point

A patient is breathing rapidly and reports tingling fingers. SpO₂ is 88% on room air. What is the priority action?

A
Coach the patient to breathe into a paper bag
B
Assess and address oxygenation promptly while evaluating the cause
C
Assume panic and provide reassurance only
D
Ask the patient to slow breathing before checking for other problems

Fill in the blank

1 point

In acid–base compensation, the respond relatively quickly to metabolic changes, while the take longer to compensate for respiratory changes.

Choose all

1 point

A patient with suspected respiratory acidosis is becoming more drowsy. Select all appropriate nursing priorities.

A
Assess respiratory effort and breath sounds
B
Support positioning, airway clearance, and prescribed ventilatory support as appropriate
C
Promptly report declining consciousness or ventilation
D
Use paper-bag rebreathing to correct the problem
E
Rely on oxygen alone to correct inadequate ventilation

Choose all

1 point

A patient with metabolic alkalosis has ongoing gastric losses. Select all appropriate nursing monitoring or reporting actions.

A
Track intake, output, and volume status
B
Review potassium, chloride, and magnesium
C
Use ECG monitoring when indicated
D
Report ongoing gastric losses and review relevant prescribed suction, diuretics, or alkali
E
Give bicarbonate routinely to correct the alkalosis

Choose one

1 point

A patient with suspected metabolic acidosis is hypotensive and has signs of poor perfusion. Which approach best reflects nursing priorities?

A
Assess and treat the underlying cause while monitoring perfusion and ordered tests
B
Give bicarbonate immediately in every case to normalize the pH
C
Delay assessment until another ABG is available
D
Treat the laboratory value without evaluating the patient's condition

Choose one

1 point

A patient receiving treatment for metabolic alkalosis has a better pH on repeat testing but develops new weakness and an irregular pulse. What should the nurse do?

A
Document the improved pH and wait for the next scheduled assessment
B
Continue the current plan without further assessment because the pH improved
C
Promptly assess and escalate the new changes; review ECG and ordered electrolyte results
D
Focus only on repeating the ABG before responding to the irregular pulse

Open ended

1 point

A patient with chronic respiratory disease has pH 7.37, PaCO₂ 58 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ 33 mEq/L. Explain why this ABG is not necessarily normal and identify what clinical context should be considered.

True or false

1 point

True or false: An arterial pH within the adult reference range of 7.35–7.45 rules out an acid–base disorder.

A
True
B
False

Choose one

1 point

A patient is breathing rapidly, reports tingling fingers, and has an SpO₂ of 88% on room air. Which action is the priority?

A
Coach the patient to breathe into a paper bag.
B
Assess and address oxygenation promptly while evaluating the cause.
C
Reassure the patient that the symptoms are caused by panic.

Written response

1 point

Calculate the anion gap using $(\mathrm{Na^+} - (\mathrm{Cl^-} + \mathrm{HCO_3^-}))$ for Na⁺ = 140 mEq/L, Cl⁻ = 104 mEq/L, and HCO₃⁻ = 20 mEq/L. Enter the value in mEq/L.

Choose one

1 point

A patient with persistent vomiting has metabolic alkalosis and weakness. Which nursing approach best addresses relevant risks and information for the care team?

A
Give potassium and chloride replacement immediately without an order.
B
Focus only on repeat pH testing because the patient is weak.
C
Assess volume status, review potassium and chloride, and track ongoing losses.

Written response

1 point

A patient with diarrhea has pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 32 mm Hg, and HCO₃⁻ 16 mEq/L. What is the primary disorder, and what does the PaCO₂ indicate?

Choose one

1 point

A postoperative patient who may have received opioids is difficult to arouse and breathing slowly. Which response should the nurse prioritize?

A
Apply oxygen alone and wait for the next blood gas.
B
Prioritize airway and breathing, summon help, and support ventilation and oxygenation per protocol.
C
Encourage oral fluids and reassess the patient in an hour.

Choose one

1 point

When planning care for a patient with metabolic acidosis, which treatment principle is most appropriate?

A
Address the underlying cause; bicarbonate is reserved for selected severe cases under provider direction.
B
Give bicarbonate routinely whenever bicarbonate is low.
C
Treat only the pH result and defer evaluation of the cause.

3 Nursing Care for Acid–Base Imbalances Online Quiz Questions

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