Nursing ABGs Questions and Verified Answers | Passed | A+

Order when reading ABGs? : Oxygenation status (PaO2, level of FiO2 received, O2 delivery device), acid-base balance (pH), ventilation status (PaCO2-also influences acid-base balance), bicarbonate level What are the clinical indications for drawing an ABG? : Patient has a change in LOC, increasing respiratory difficulty, or low blood pressure (or change in BP on arrival). Why do we need to draw an ABG for a patient with low blood pressure? : Because if the body is acidotic and the pH is very low, the patient loses the autonomic nervous system ability to vasoconstrict. ABGs will tell us the pH, and then we can proceed to raise the pH to normalize the blood pressure. Formula for ideal tidal volume on ventilator : 6 to 10ml (preferably 6) per kg of patient's ideal body weight. 2 Bicarbonate level during respiratory failure that warrants administering more bicarb : 10-11 Normal PaO2 : 80-100mmHg Normal PaO2 for COPD patient : 60-80mmH