Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 83%
Simulated
A client is hyperventilating due to an acute psychologic stressor. The arterial blood gas results show that the client is in respiratory alkalosis. What is the nurse's initial intervention?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct initial intervention is to assist the client in slowed breathing techniques (Choice C). This helps to decrease the respiratory rate and normalize the client's blood pH by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide exhaled. Administering an intravenous sedative (Choice A) may further depress the client's respiratory drive. Assessing for seizure activity (Choice B) is not the priority as hyperventilation is likely due to the psychologic stressor. Checking the client's blood pressure (Choice D) is important but not the initial intervention for respiratory alkalosis.