Read the pH: below 7.35 is acidosis, above 7.45 alkalosis.
Find the value that explains it: PaCO₂ moving opposite to the pH is respiratory, HCO₃⁻ moving with the pH is metabolic.
Look at the other value: normal means uncompensated, abnormal in the compensating direction means partial compensation, and a normal pH with both abnormal means full compensation.
In a metabolic acidosis, compare PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula, 1.5·HCO₃⁻ + 8 ± 2, and calculate the anion gap Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻).
Check a high anion gap with the delta ratio and, when albumin is low, with the corrected gap.
falls 25, diagnosis 15, aid 15/30, IV 20, gait 10/20, mental status 15
NEWS2 risk
0–4 low; single 3 low–medium; 5–6 medium; ≥ 7 high
Mean arterial pressure
MAP = (SBP + 2·DBP)/3 = DBP + PP/3
Pulse pressure and shock index
PP = SBP − DBP, SI = HR/SBP
Body mass index
BMI = kg/m² = 703·lb/in²
Method
Find the score sheet that the question uses and its range (GCS 3–15, APGAR 0–10, Braden 6–23, Morse 0–125).
Score every item separately, matching the description to its level.
Add the item scores and check that the total lies inside the range.
Apply the cut-offs: for NEWS2 also look for any single parameter scoring 3.
For derived values use MAP = (SBP + 2·DBP)/3, PP = SBP − DBP, SI = HR/SBP and BMI = kg/m².
Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory
Method
Name the problem: pump failure, blocked artery, rhythm, clot, airway narrowing, infection or a device problem.
Check the danger signs first: hypoxia, hypotension, chest pain, new confusion, a cold pulseless limb.
Match the oxygen to the patient: 94–98% for most, 88–92% for those at risk of CO₂ retention.
Link each drug to its test and its risk: warfarin and INR, heparin and aPTT and platelets, diuretics and potassium.
Choose the safe first action, then escalate and reassess.
2Practice problems
1.Oxygen therapy & respiratory calculationsMedium
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A size E oxygen cylinder (factor 0.28 L/psi) reads 650 psi and runs at 10 L/min. Keeping a safe residual of 200 psi, how many minutes t will it last? Round down to a whole minute.
650 psif = 0.28 L/psi10 L/min200 psi
t = min
2.Oxygen therapy & respiratory calculationsHard
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A ventilated woman is 162 cm tall and weighs 81 kg. Lung-protective ventilation is set at 4 mL per kg of predicted body weight. Using PBW = 45.5 + 0.91 × (height cm − 152.4) kg, find the tidal volume VT to the nearest mL.
162 cm81 kg4 mL/kg
VT = mL
3.Arterial blood gas interpretationMedium
A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.36, PaCO₂ 51 mmHg (6.8 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 28 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.
pH 7.36PaCO₂ 51 mmHg (6.8 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 28 mmol/L
1uncompensated
2partially compensated
3fully compensated
4.Arterial blood gas interpretationHard
A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 41 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.
HCO₃⁻ 41 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Clinical assessment scoresMedium
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A practice patient is assessed with the Morse fall scale: history of falling in the last 3 months: no; secondary diagnosis: no; ambulatory aid: holds on to furniture; IV therapy or saline lock: no; gait: normal, bed rest or wheelchair; mental status: knows own limits. Find the Morse total MFS.
0–125
MFS =
6.Clinical assessment scoresHard
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). Use the NEWS2 chart (SpO₂ scale 1) for these observations: respiration rate 22/min, SpO₂ 97% on room air, blood pressure 142/86 mmHg, pulse 58/min, alert, temperature 39.6 °C. Which clinical risk group does the patient fall into? Click it.
RR 22SpO₂ 97%airSBP 142HR 58AT 39.6 °C
1low
2low–medium
3medium
4high
7.Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratoryMedium
How should a patient breathe in when using a pressurised metered-dose inhaler without a spacer?
ANormally, while breathing out through the mouthpiece
BIn short gasps through the nose while pressing the canister
CAs hard and fast as possible, then press the canister afterwards
DSlowly and deeply while pressing the canister, then hold the breath
8.Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratoryHard
A nurse teaches a patient who has a new permanent pacemaker. Which statement shows a need for further teaching?
A"I will keep my mobile phone in my shirt pocket over the device."
B"I will keep my follow-up appointments for device checks."
C"I will carry my pacemaker identification card with me at all times."
D"I will tell staff about the device before any MRI scan."
3Solutions
1.Oxygen therapy & respiratory calculations
Answer: t = 12 min
Cylinder duration: usable litres = (gauge pressure − safe residual) × cylinder factor, with the safe residual usually 200 psi. Cylinder factors in L/psi: D 0.16, E 0.28, H (and K) 3.14. Duration (min) = usable litres/flow (L/min). Round a duration down, never up, so the cylinder is changed in time. In bar-based systems, the gas volume is the water capacity (L) × the pressure (bar).
Usable litres
(650 − 200)·0.28 = 126 L
Duration
126/10 = 12.6 min → t = 12 min
Answer
t = 12 min
2.Oxygen therapy & respiratory calculations
Answer: VT = 217 mL
Ventilation: minute ventilation V̇E = tidal volume × respiratory rate (normal adult about 5–8 L/min). Alveolar ventilation V̇A = (tidal volume − dead space) × rate, because the air in the airways (about 150 mL in an adult) takes no part in gas exchange. Lung-protective ventilation uses about 6 mL per kg of predicted body weight (PBW): men 50 + 0.91 × (height in cm − 152.4) kg, women 45.5 + 0.91 × (height in cm − 152.4) kg (with inches: 2.3 per inch above 60 in).
Predicted body weight
PBW = 45.5 + 0.91·(162 − 152.4) = 54.24 kg
Tidal volume
VT = 4·54.24 = 216.9 ≈ 217 mL
Answer
VT = 217 mL
3.Arterial blood gas interpretation
Answer: fully compensated
Reading a blood gas (ROME): first the pH: below 7.35 is acidaemia, above 7.45 alkalaemia. Then find the value that explains it. PaCO₂ (normal 35–45 mmHg, 4.7–6.0 kPa) is the respiratory part and moves Opposite to the pH in a respiratory disorder; HCO₃⁻ (normal 22–26 mmol/L) is the metabolic part and moves in the same direction as the pH (Respiratory Opposite, Metabolic Equal). The other value shows the compensation: normal means uncompensated; abnormal in the direction that pulls the pH back while the pH is still abnormal means partially compensated; a normal pH with both values abnormal means fully compensated. Ranges differ slightly between laboratories; these are practice values.
ROME, value by value
pH 7.36: within 7.35–7.45
PaCO₂ 51 mmHg: high (35–45)
HCO₃⁻ 28 mmol/L: high (22–26)
Compensation
fully compensated
Answer
fully compensated
4.Arterial blood gas interpretation
Answer: PaCO₂ = 49.7 mmHg
Expected compensation: in metabolic acidosis Winter’s formula predicts PaCO₂ = 1.5·HCO₃⁻ + 8 ± 2 mmHg; a measured value above that range points to an additional respiratory acidosis, below it to an additional respiratory alkalosis. The anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), normally about 8–12 mmol/L, separates high-gap from normal-gap metabolic acidosis; low albumin hides a high gap (add 2.5 per g/dL that albumin is below 4.0). The delta ratio (AG − 12)/(24 − HCO₃⁻) between about 0.8 and 2 fits a pure high-gap acidosis (some texts use 1 instead of 0.8), below that an added normal-gap acidosis, and above 2 an added metabolic alkalosis.
Expected PaCO₂
0.7·41 + 21 = 49.7 mmHg
Answer
PaCO₂ = 49.7 mmHg
The rise has a limit: PaCO₂ rarely goes above about 55 mmHg from compensation alone.
5.Clinical assessment scores
Answer: MFS = 30
Morse fall scale: six items. History of falling: no 0, yes 25. Secondary diagnosis: no 0, yes 15. Ambulatory aid: none, bed rest or nurse assistance 0; crutches, cane or walker 15; holding on to furniture 30. IV therapy or saline lock: no 0, yes 20. Gait: normal, bed rest or wheelchair 0; weak 10; impaired 20. Mental status: knows own limits 0; overestimates or forgets limits 15. The total runs from 0 to 125. Risk cut-offs differ between hospitals; a common set is 0–24 low, 25–44 moderate and 45 or more high.
Score each item
history of falling in the last 3 months: no → 0
secondary diagnosis: no → 0
ambulatory aid: holds on to furniture → 30
IV therapy or saline lock: no → 0
gait: normal, bed rest or wheelchair → 0
mental status: knows own limits → 0
Add
Morse total = 0 + 0 + 30 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 30
Answer
MFS = 30
6.Clinical assessment scores
Answer: low
NEWS2 (National Early Warning Score 2, Royal College of Physicians 2017): score each of the seven parameters with the chart (respiration rate, SpO₂ on scale 1, air or supplemental oxygen, systolic blood pressure, pulse, consciousness on the ACVPU scale and temperature) and add the scores. Clinical risk: 0–4 low; a score of 3 in any single parameter low–medium; 5–6 medium; 7 or more high. A total of 5 or more needs an urgent response.
Score each parameter
RR 22/min → 2
SpO₂ 97% → 0
on air → 0
SBP 142 mmHg → 0
HR 58/min → 0
alert (A) → 0
T 39.6 °C → 2
Total and red scores
NEWS2 = 2 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 2 = 4
No parameter scores 3.
Risk group
low
Answer
low
7.Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory
Answer: D · Slowly and deeply while pressing the canister, then hold the breath
Why this is the answer
With a metered-dose inhaler, the patient breathes out, starts a slow deep breath, presses the canister at the start of it and then holds the breath for about 10 seconds. Coordination is difficult, which is why spacers are often used.
Answer
D · Slowly and deeply while pressing the canister, then hold the breath
8.Med-surg: cardiovascular & respiratory
Answer: A · "I will keep my mobile phone in my shirt pocket over the device."
Why this is the answer
Patients are advised to keep mobile phones at least about 15 cm from the device and to hold them to the opposite ear. They carry a device card, tell staff before MRI or surgery (diathermy) and attend follow-up checks. Normal household appliances are generally safe.
Answer
A · "I will keep my mobile phone in my shirt pocket over the device."