RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS:

pH is down Passing Nclex Exam

PCO2 is up
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METABOLIC ACIDOSIS: -------------
pH is down 1:The easy way is look at the ph
HCO3 is down

RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS: Is it alkalosis or acidosis?

pH is up
PCO2 is down 2:Then look at CO2 and HCO3

METABOLIC ALKALOSIS: Which one agrees with the ph? (if ph is acidotic, co2 is
pH is up high opposite for alkalotic) (if ph is acidotic HCO3 will
HCO3 is up be low opposite for alkalosis)

------------------------------------------------------------------- The one that agrees with the ph is the type of problem
--------------- you have (if the CO2 is high and ph is acidotic, then you
have respiratory acidosis. if the HCO3 is low and the ph
75 Things you should know before taking NCLEX is acidotic, you have metabolic acidosis, opposites for
alkalosis)
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--------------- 3. then look at the other lab (if the problem is
respiratory, look at the HCO3. If the problem is
ABG Arterial Blood Gas Made Easy metabolic, look at the CO2)

------------------------------------------------------------------- Is it in the normal range? If so the problem is

--------------- uncompensated.
{increase of pH is alkalosis}
Does is agree with the ph? (Both CO2 and HCO3 levels
{decrease of pH is acidosis} cause acidosis) then the problem is respiratory and
metabolic acidosis or alcalosis and is uncompensated.
Respiratory = CO2
Or does it disagree with the ph? (ex. ph is acidic, but
Metabolic ( kidneys ) = HCO3 HCO3 is high or CO2 is low) if so, the problem is
partially compensated.
HCO3 ( bicarbonate ) follows pH. If pH goes up so does
HCO3. So you can have uncompensated, partially compensated
or even fully compensated (where the HCO3 and CO2
CO2 increase, pH decrease = respiratory acidosis are out of wack, but ph is normal) respiratory or
metabolic acidosis or alkalosis.
CO2 decrease, pH increase = respiratory alkalosis
Basically you need three things:
HCO3 increase, pH increase = metabolic alkalosis
Acidosis or alkalosis? What is causing it (respiratory or
HCO3 decrease, pH decrease = metabolic acidosis metabolic)? and is the other system trying to fix it (by
------------------------------------------------------------------- compensating).
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