Arterial blood-gas interpretations in the respiratory intensive-care unit.
The role of the nurse in the respiratory intensive-care unit requires increased sophistication as our knowledge of the patient becomes more complex. This expanded role should include a thorough understanding of disturbances in acid-base balance, the relationship of PaCO2 to ventilation, the difference in acute and chronic respiratory problems, and the causes and treatment of hypoxemia. The ability to analyze and evaluate blood-gas determinations is simply one more important tool the nurse may utilize in the care and treatment of the critically ill patient.
D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000097:blood; D000142:Acidosis, Respiratory / Q000097:blood; D000472:Alkalosis, Respiratory / Q000097:blood; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007040:Hypoventilation / Q000150:complications; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D012124:Respiratory Care Units; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
D001639:Bicarbonates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen