Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 77%
Simulated
A nurse is reviewing arterial blood gas results for a client diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The nurse should expect which abnormal finding?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
COPD causes CO2 retention due to impaired ventilation, leading to hypercapnia (increased PaCO2) and respiratory acidosis. A. Hypoxemia, not increased oxygen, is typical. B. pH is usually low or normal due to acidosis, not elevated. D. Alveolar damage is structural, not an ABG finding.