Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 67%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who is unconscious and has a breathing pattern characterized by alternating periods of hyperventilation and apnea. The nurse should document that the client has which of the following respiratory alterations?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
Cheyne-Stokes respirations are characterized by a cyclic pattern of increasing and decreasing tidal volumes followed by periods of apnea, fitting the description provided.