True or false: In a primary respiratory disorder, pH and PaCO₂ generally move in opposite directions.
5 Blood Gases, Cardiac Markers, and Clinical Practice Online Quiz Questions
Use this free practice quiz with 20 questions to review 5 Blood Gases, Cardiac Markers, and Clinical Practice, test your knowledge, and prepare for your next test or exam.
For respiratory disorders, pH and PaCO₂ generally move in directions.
What physiologic stimulus prompts release of BNP and NT-proBNP?
When CK-MB appears in a result set and cardiac troponin testing is available, which approach is most appropriate?
- A
Treat it as a substitute for troponin whenever it is elevated.
- B
Interpret it using local guidance and the full clinical picture.
- C
Use it alone to determine whether a patient has had a heart attack.
- D
Compare its result directly with a BNP result.
A patient’s high-sensitivity cardiac troponin is above the assay-specific 99th-percentile upper reference limit. What conclusion is supported by this result alone?
- A
It proves that the patient has had a heart attack.
- B
It identifies the cause of the patient’s myocardial injury.
- C
It indicates myocardial injury, but does not alone establish its cause.
- D
It rules out myocardial injury if the patient has no chest pain.
A patient with shortness of breath has an elevated BNP. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
- A
It diagnoses heart failure without any other assessment.
- B
It supports considering heart failure but needs clinical context.
- C
It rules out heart failure if the patient has no edema.
- D
It can be directly compared with an NT-proBNP value as the same test.
Which biomarker is preferred for detecting myocardial injury in suspected acute coronary syndrome?
A near-normal pH does not rule out dangerous .
Which details belong in the assessment portion of an SBAR report about a concerning laboratory result? Select all that apply.
- A
Current vital signs and mental status.
- B
Only the lab result, without its units or reference limit.
- C
ECG findings, if available.
- D
The exact lab value and units, reference limit, and prior or repeat values with times.
- E
A request for urgent bedside assessment, with no patient findings.
When evaluating a PaO₂ result, which considerations are supported? Select all that apply.
- A
Consider the patient’s supplemental oxygen or other oxygen delivery.
- B
Assume PaO₂ is unaffected by altitude.
- C
Interpret the result alongside SpO₂ and the clinical picture.
- D
Use a near-normal pH as proof that oxygenation is safe.
True or false: If an ECG shows STEMI, reperfusion treatment should wait until troponin results are available.
- A
True
- B
False
A patient has a pH of 7.25, PaCO₂ of 26 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ of 12 mEq/L. Which interpretation best fits this pattern?
- A
Respiratory acidosis with no compensation.
- B
Metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation.
- C
Metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation.
- D
Respiratory alkalosis with metabolic compensation.
A patient becomes increasingly drowsy and develops worsening breathing difficulty while a laboratory result is still pending. What should the care team do, and why should it not wait for the result?
When beginning a systematic interpretation of an arterial blood gas, which measurement should you read first?
In an arterial blood gas report, what quantity does SaO₂ represent?
When interpreting an arterial blood gas, compensation does not necessarily return the pH to the reference range.
- A
True
- B
False
A patient with suspected diabetic ketoacidosis has an arterial blood gas showing pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 26 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ 12 mEq/L. Which interpretation best fits this pattern?
- A
Respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation
- B
Metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation
- C
Respiratory alkalosis with metabolic compensation
- D
Metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation
A patient’s arterial blood gas shows pH 7.40 and PaO₂ 58 mmHg. Which conclusion is best supported?
- A
Normal pH establishes that oxygenation is adequate.
- B
PaO₂ is not useful when pH is within its reference range.
- C
The low PaO₂ indicates hypoxemia that needs assessment in clinical context.
- D
The result proves that the patient has a metabolic acid–base disorder.
A patient has one high-sensitivity cardiac troponin result above that assay’s 99th-percentile upper reference limit. What does this finding establish by itself?
- A
It proves an acute myocardial infarction regardless of symptoms or ECG findings.
- B
It indicates myocardial injury, but one value alone does not establish the cause or prove a heart attack.
- C
It rules out myocardial injury unless CK-MB is also elevated.
- D
It can be interpreted using the cutoff from any troponin assay.
You are giving an SBAR report about a concerning laboratory result. Which information belongs in the Assessment portion?
- A
Only the patient’s history and symptom onset
- B
Only the requested intervention
- C
Current status and the exact result, including relevant reference and trend information
- D
Only the latest laboratory value, without units or context