Question

A client presents to the emergency department having a severe panic attack and hyperventilating. What acid base imbalance would the nurse anticipate if respirations continue to be too fast?

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

Respiratory alkalosis

Rationale :

🏵️ Hyperventilation causes the client to exhale carbon dioxide (CO₂) faster than it is produced.

🏵️ Carbon dioxide combines with water to form carbonic acid, so losing CO₂ decreases the amount of carbonic acid in the blood.

🏵️ The reduction in carbonic acid causes the blood pH to increase above 7.45.

🏵️ Because the primary disturbance involves PaCO₂ and the respiratory system, the imbalance is respiratory rather than metabolic.

🏵️ Acute panic attacks commonly cause rapid, deep breathing that can produce an acute respiratory alkalosis.

🏵️ Clients may experience lightheadedness, dizziness, tingling, or numbness as the alkalosis develops.

🏵️ An ABG would typically demonstrate an elevated pH and decreased PaCO₂.

🏵️ Continued excessive ventilation therefore causes respiratory alkalosis.

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Answer 2

Correct Answers:

The human leukocyte antigens (HLA) on the skin were a poor match between the donor and the recipient

Rationale :

✏️ Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are cell-surface proteins that help the immune system distinguish self from nonself.

✏️ A donor skin graft containing substantially different HLA molecules can be recognized by the recipient's immune system as foreign tissue.

✏️ Recognition of foreign HLA activates the recipient's adaptive immune response, particularly T lymphocytes.

✏️ Activated immune cells attack the transplanted tissue and can cause graft rejection.

✏️ Greater donor-recipient HLA compatibility generally decreases the likelihood of an immune response against transplanted tissue.

✏️ Poor HLA compatibility therefore increases the likelihood that the recipient's immune system will recognize and damage the donor graft.

✏️ Skin is highly immunogenic, making immune compatibility particularly important with allogeneic skin grafts.

✏️ A poor HLA match is therefore the best explanation among the choices for rejection of the donor skin graft.

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Answer 3

Correct Answers:

pH 7.3, HCO3 18 mEq/L, CO2 37 mEq/L

Rationale :

💜 A pH of 7.3 is below 7.35, indicating acidemia.

💜 The HCO₃⁻ of 18 mEq/L is decreased, identifying the primary abnormality as metabolic.

💜 The combination of decreased pH and decreased bicarbonate is characteristic of metabolic acidosis.

💜 Severe renal failure can cause metabolic acidosis because the kidneys cannot adequately excrete hydrogen ions.

💜 Impaired renal function also decreases the kidneys' ability to regenerate and conserve sufficient bicarbonate.

💜 A PaCO₂ of 37 mm Hg remains within the normal range, indicating that significant respiratory compensation has not occurred in the values provided.

💜 Respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis would normally involve hyperventilation and a decreased PaCO₂.

💜 These values therefore best represent uncompensated metabolic acidosis among the available choices.

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Answer 4

Correct Answers:

Decrease in blood pressure

Rationale :

🤎 A decrease in blood pressure reduces renal perfusion pressure, which is detected by the kidneys.

🤎 Specialized juxtaglomerular cells in the kidney respond to reduced renal perfusion by releasing renin.

🤎 Renin initiates conversion of angiotensinogen toward angiotensin I, beginning activation of the RAAS pathway.

🤎 Angiotensin-converting enzyme subsequently converts angiotensin I into angiotensin II.

🤎 Angiotensin II produces vasoconstriction, helping increase systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure.

🤎 Angiotensin II also stimulates aldosterone secretion, promoting sodium and water retention by the kidneys.

🤎 Increased circulating volume and vascular tone work together to restore blood pressure and tissue perfusion.

🤎 A decrease in blood pressure is therefore the best trigger listed for renin release.

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Answer 5

Correct Answers:

Vector

Rationale :

🖤 Lyme disease is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of an infected Ixodes tick.

🖤 A vector is a living organism that carries and transmits an infectious agent between hosts.

🖤 Ticks function as biological vectors by acquiring and transmitting Borrelia burgdorferi, the major cause of Lyme disease in North America.

🖤 Camping in wooded or grassy areas increases the opportunity for exposure to infected ticks.

🖤 Transmission generally occurs when an infected tick attaches to the skin and feeds on the host.

🖤 Lyme disease is therefore categorized as a vector-borne infection based on its principal route of transmission.

🖤 Prevention focuses on reducing tick exposure through protective clothing, repellents, tick checks, and prompt tick removal.

🖤 Vector transmission is therefore the correct answer.

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Answer 6

Correct Answers:

Breathing difficulties and hives

Rationale :

⏩ Anaphylaxis is a severe, systemic hypersensitivity reaction that can rapidly compromise the airway, breathing, and circulation.

⏩ Exposure to peanuts in a sensitized client can trigger IgE-mediated mast cell and basophil degranulation, releasing histamine and other inflammatory mediators.

⏩ Histamine causes bronchoconstriction and airway edema, which can produce wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness, stridor, and difficulty breathing.

⏩ Histamine also produces vasodilation and increased capillary permeability, contributing to hypotension and tissue swelling in severe reactions.

⏩ Hives (urticaria) commonly develop because inflammatory mediators affect blood vessels within the skin, producing raised, pruritic wheals.

⏩ Additional manifestations can include facial or lip swelling, flushing, gastrointestinal symptoms, tachycardia, and hypotension as the reaction progresses.

⏩ Airway and respiratory manifestations are particularly dangerous because progressive laryngeal edema and bronchospasm can cause life-threatening hypoxemia.

⏩ The combination of breathing difficulties and hives therefore most strongly represents the expected systemic manifestations of anaphylaxis.

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Answer 7

Correct Answers:

Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes

Rationale :

✅ Severe hypomagnesemia increases neuromuscular excitability, making hyperactive deep tendon reflexes an expected assessment finding.

✅ Magnesium normally contributes to the regulation of nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and membrane stability, so significant depletion disrupts normal neuromuscular function.

✅ Clients with low magnesium can develop hyperreflexia, muscle cramps, tremors, weakness, tetany, and seizures as the deficiency becomes more severe.

✅ Long-standing Crohn's disease can contribute to hypomagnesemia because chronic diarrhea and intestinal inflammation can cause gastrointestinal magnesium loss and impaired absorption.

✅ Severe magnesium depletion can also affect cardiac electrical activity and increase the risk of dangerous ventricular dysrhythmias, including torsades de pointes.

✅ Neuromuscular assessment is particularly important because increasing hyperreflexia and tetany can indicate significant electrolyte disturbance.

✅ Magnesium levels should also be interpreted with other electrolytes because hypomagnesemia frequently occurs with hypokalemia and hypocalcemia, which can further increase complications.

✅ Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes are therefore the finding most consistent with the client's extremely low magnesium level.

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Answer 8

Correct Answers:

High hydrostatic pressure

Rationale :

➡️ Hydrostatic pressure is the force exerted by fluid against the walls of blood vessels, and increased capillary hydrostatic pressure promotes movement of fluid from the vascular space into the interstitial tissues.

➡️ When vascular pressure becomes elevated, the increased pressure at the capillary level can push more fluid across the capillary membrane into surrounding tissues.

➡️ When fluid filtration exceeds the ability of the lymphatic system to return that fluid to the circulation, peripheral edema develops.

➡️ Increased hydrostatic pressure is an important mechanism of edema in conditions associated with elevated vascular pressures, particularly venous congestion and heart failure.

➡️ The resulting interstitial fluid accumulation is commonly most noticeable in dependent areas, such as the ankles and lower legs in ambulatory clients.

➡️ Hydrostatic-pressure edema differs from edema caused by decreased oncotic pressure because the primary problem is excessive outward pressure rather than inadequate plasma protein concentration.

➡️ Assessment findings can include swelling, increased extremity circumference, weight gain, and pitting edema, depending on the severity and underlying condition.

➡️ Among the choices provided, high hydrostatic pressure is therefore the best mechanism explaining peripheral edema associated with elevated vascular pressure.

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Answer 9

Correct Answers:

Bacteria

Rationale :

↪️ A Gram stain is primarily used to classify bacteria according to structural differences in their cell walls and their response to specific staining procedures.

↪️ Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan cell wall, which retains the crystal violet-iodine complex during the staining process.

↪️ Because the crystal violet stain remains trapped within the thick cell wall, gram-positive organisms typically appear purple or violet under the microscope.

↪️ A throat culture demonstrating a gram-positive organism therefore indicates the presence of a bacterial organism rather than a virus, parasite, or typical fungal pathogen.

↪️ One clinically important gram-positive organism associated with pharyngitis is Streptococcus pyogenes, which causes group A streptococcal pharyngitis.

↪️ Gram staining can provide rapid preliminary information about the organism while additional culture and susceptibility testing helps identify the specific bacterium and guide treatment.

↪️ Identification of the organism is clinically important because confirmed bacterial infections may require appropriate antimicrobial therapy, depending on the pathogen and clinical presentation.

↪️ The description of a gram-positive organism therefore most directly identifies the organism as bacteria.

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Answer 10

Correct Answers:

Metabolic alkalosis no compensation

Rationale :

*️⃣ The client's pH is 7.56, which is above the normal range of 7.35–7.45 and therefore establishes that the client has alkalemia.

*️⃣ The HCO₃⁻ is elevated at 30 mEq/L, identifying bicarbonate as the primary abnormality responsible for the alkalemia.

*️⃣ When the pH and bicarbonate are both elevated, the primary acid-base disturbance is metabolic alkalosis.

*️⃣ The client's PaCO₂ is 40 mm Hg, which remains within the normal range of approximately 35–45 mm Hg.

*️⃣ Respiratory compensation for metabolic alkalosis would involve hypoventilation and retention of CO₂, causing the PaCO₂ to rise above its normal range.

*️⃣ Because the PaCO₂ remains normal, there is no evidence of respiratory compensation in the ABG values provided.

*️⃣ Excessive ingestion of calcium carbonate-containing antacids such as TUMS can contribute to an increased alkali load, which supports the metabolic alkalosis described in the scenario.

*️⃣ The ABG pattern of high pH, high HCO₃⁻, and normal PaCO₂ therefore represents metabolic alkalosis with no compensation.

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RN Fall Pharmacology 2026 Exam

No.

1 :
A client presents to the emergency department having a severe panic attack and hyperventilating. What acid base imbalance would the nurse anticipate if respirations continue to be too fast?

2 :
A client has a skin graft from a donor and quickly rejects the graft. What is the most likely cause of the transplant rejection?

3 :
A client presents to the emergency department in severe renal failure. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is drawn and the health care provider tells the nurse that the client has metabolic acidosis with no compensation. What values does the nurse expect to see on an arterial blood gas (ABG)?

4 :
What causes the kidneys to release renin, activating the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)?

5 :
A client recently spent the weekend in the woods on a camping trip and now tests positive for Lyme disease. What is main route of transmission for this condition?

6 :
A client is allergic to peanut butter and is accidentally exposed for the third time. The client develops anaphylaxis. What signs and symptoms does the nurse expect to see?

7 :
A client with a long history of Crohn's Disease recently had their annual blood work drawn. The client's magnesium was extremely low. Which of the following signs and symptoms would you most likely see with this type of electrolyte imbalance?

8 :
What is the primary cause of peripheral edema in a client with high blood pressure?

9 :
The results of a client's throat culture shows a gram positive organism. What type of organism does the nurse expect?

10 :
A client presents to the emergency department with severe stomach pain. The client has been taking three times the max dose of TUMS. The client is hypokalemic and arterial blood gas (ABG) is as follows: pH 7.56, HCO3 30 mEq/L, CO2 40 mmHg. What acid base imbalance does the client have?

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RN Fall Pharmacology 2026 Exam

No.

1 : A client presents to the emergency department having a severe panic attack and hyperventilating. What acid base imbalance would the nurse anticipate if respirations continue to be too fast?

2 : A client has a skin graft from a donor and quickly rejects the graft. What is the most likely cause of the transplant rejection?

3 : A client presents to the emergency department in severe renal failure. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is drawn and the health care provider tells the nurse that the client has metabolic acidosis with no compensation. What values does the nurse expect to see on an arterial blood gas (ABG)?

4 : What causes the kidneys to release renin, activating the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)?

5 : A client recently spent the weekend in the woods on a camping trip and now tests positive for Lyme disease. What is main route of transmission for this condition?

6 : A client is allergic to peanut butter and is accidentally exposed for the third time. The client develops anaphylaxis. What signs and symptoms does the nurse expect to see?

7 : A client with a long history of Crohn's Disease recently had their annual blood work drawn. The client's magnesium was extremely low. Which of the following signs and symptoms would you most likely see with this type of electrolyte imbalance?

8 : What is the primary cause of peripheral edema in a client with high blood pressure?

9 : The results of a client's throat culture shows a gram positive organism. What type of organism does the nurse expect?

10 : A client presents to the emergency department with severe stomach pain. The client has been taking three times the max dose of TUMS. The client is hypokalemic and arterial blood gas (ABG) is as follows: pH 7.56, HCO3 30 mEq/L, CO2 40 mmHg. What acid base imbalance does the client have?

1 :
A client presents to the emergency department having a severe panic attack and hyperventilating. What acid base imbalance would the nurse anticipate if respirations continue to be too fast?

2 :
A client has a skin graft from a donor and quickly rejects the graft. What is the most likely cause of the transplant rejection?

3 :
A client presents to the emergency department in severe renal failure. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is drawn and the health care provider tells the nurse that the client has metabolic acidosis with no compensation. What values does the nurse expect to see on an arterial blood gas (ABG)?

4 :
What causes the kidneys to release renin, activating the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)?

5 :
A client recently spent the weekend in the woods on a camping trip and now tests positive for Lyme disease. What is main route of transmission for this condition?

6 :
A client is allergic to peanut butter and is accidentally exposed for the third time. The client develops anaphylaxis. What signs and symptoms does the nurse expect to see?

7 :
A client with a long history of Crohn's Disease recently had their annual blood work drawn. The client's magnesium was extremely low. Which of the following signs and symptoms would you most likely see with this type of electrolyte imbalance?

8 :
What is the primary cause of peripheral edema in a client with high blood pressure?

9 :
The results of a client's throat culture shows a gram positive organism. What type of organism does the nurse expect?

10 :
A client presents to the emergency department with severe stomach pain. The client has been taking three times the max dose of TUMS. The client is hypokalemic and arterial blood gas (ABG) is as follows: pH 7.56, HCO3 30 mEq/L, CO2 40 mmHg. What acid base imbalance does the client have?