The client has been admitted with complaints of shortness of breath of

The client has been admitted with complaints of shortness of breath of 2 weeks duration and has received the nursing diagnosis Impaired Gas Exchange. Which admission laboratory result would support the choice of this diagnosis?

1. Increased hematocrit
2. Decreased BUN
3. Increased blood sugar
4. Increased sedimentation rate

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Hematocrit is the percentage of the blood that is erythrocytes, which contain the hemoglobin that carries oxygen. Long-term hypoxia may result in the body’s attempt to increase oxygen-carrying capacity by increasing erythrocyte production.
Rationale 2: BUN is a measure of blood urea nitrogen, not oxygen-carrying capacity.
Rationale 3: The blood glucose level is not used to measure oxygenation.
Rationale 4: The sedimentation rate is not a direct measure of oxygenation.