Question

A client who has acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (hiv) develops bacterial pneumonia. on admission to the emergency department, the client's pao 2 is 80 mm hg. when the arterial blood gases are drawn again, the level is determined to be 65 mm hg. what should the nurse do first

Answer 1

When the patient was admitted, her PaO2 was at 80 mm Hg. The level decreased to 65 mm Hg immediately after the arterial gases were drawn. This decrease in PaO2 is an indication of respiratory failure and it warrants medical evaluation. The most appropriate thing for a nurse to do in this kind of a situation is to increase the oxygen flow rate.