Which arterial blood gas results does the nurse recognize as most indicative of impending respiratory failure?

dyspnea

Apprehension, restlessness, fatigue, headache, dyspnea, wheezing, cyanosis, and use of the accessory muscles of respiration are seen in clients with impending respiratory failure. A fall in arterial oxygen levels, or hypoxemia, is a sign of acute respiratory failure. A rise in arterial CO2, or hypercapnia, is a sign of acute respiratory failure. Ventilatory failure develops in acute respiratory failure when the alveoli cannot adequately expand.

The employee enters the room wearing a gown, gloves, and a mask.

The nurse should tell the employee to wear the proper personal protective equipment, including a gown, gloves, N95 respirator, and eye protection, when entering the client's room. To prevent the spread of infection, a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, and thermometer for single client use should be kept in the room of a client who requires isolation. Removing all personal protective equipment and washing hands before leaving the client's room are correct procedures.

Which arterial blood gas ABG results does the nurse recognize as most indicative of impending respiratory failure?

The gold standard for the diagnosis of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is an arterial pO2 on room air less than 60 mmHg measured by arterial blood gases (ABG).

What indicates the patient is in respiratory failure?

A doctor may diagnose you with respiratory failure based on the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood, a physical exam to see how fast and shallow your breathing is and how hard you are working to breathe, as well as the results of lung function tests.

Which ABG analysis results would you expect to find in a patient with acute respiratory failure?

Acute Respiratory Failure In general, blood gas analysis from this type of patient shows a Pco2 greater than 45 mm Hg, a pH of less than 7.35, and HCO3 and BE within the normal range. This finding is the typical picture of acute respiratory acidosis.

How does a nurse know when a person is experiencing respiratory failure?

Clinical indicators of acute respiratory failure include: partial pressure of arterial oxygen (Pao2) below 60 mm Hg, or arterial oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (Spo2) below 91% on room air. Paco2 above 50 mm Hg and pH below 7.35.