Progressive Care Nursing Certification (PCCN) Practice Exam

In a patient with new onset sepsis, what ABG results might the nurse anticipate?

1. 7.5 30 59 89 23

2. 7.3 51 49 81 18

3. 7.26 32 63 91 14

4. 7.48 46 52 85 28

The correct answer is: 7.5 30 59 89 23

In a patient with new onset sepsis, the anticipated ABG results typically reflect a physiological response to infection, often resulting in a combination of respiratory and metabolic changes. In sepsis, there is usually an emphasis on acidosis due to the body's increased demand for oxygen that cannot be met efficiently, leading to the production of lactic acid. The correct choice displays a pH value of 7.5, which indicates a condition of alkalosis, generally not typical in the early stages of severe sepsis. In severe sepsis or septic shock, one can expect to see a low pH due to metabolic acidosis, often accompanied by elevated respiratory activity leading to respiratory alkalosis as the body attempts to compensate for the acidosis. This particular set of results (7.5 30 59 89 23) indicates a high pH alongside a low carbon dioxide level (30 mmHg). In a sepsis context, the patient may breathe rapidly (hyperventilation) to blow off carbon dioxide in response to increased metabolic demand and lactic acid production, but usually the pH drops rather than rises dramatically without significant intervention. The most relevant findings in this clinical scenario would include a low pH indicating acidosis, elevated lactate