A client has been admitted to the emergency department with an aspirin

A client has been admitted to the emergency department with an aspirin overdose.

The nurse anticipates that the client will be experiencing respiratory complications because the nurse knows that aspirin (salicylate) poisoning causes excessive stimulation of the respiratory system as the body attempts to compensate for:
1. Decreased hemoglobin
2. Excess carbon monoxide
3. Decreased oxygen
4. Excess carbon dioxide

ANSWER

ANS: 4
The body is attempting to correct the acid-base balance, so the respiratory system causes the body to breathe faster in order to try to blow off the excessive carbon dioxide. The hemoglobin is not decreased but does not release oxygen to tissues as readily, and tissue hypoxia results. The body does not produce carbon monoxide. Oxygen levels are not decreased, but the body is at-tempting to compensate for metabolic acidosis by producing a respiratory alkalosis.