help / acid base is kiling me

jtjames · Nov 28, 2007

Does anyone know of a web site, or a good book that will in detail explain the acid base balance / electrolyte stuff. I'm strugging with it and I have a big test next week. any and all help would be so great

just had a test on it on monday, I have my notes but no websites did your instructor explain the acid base man and ROME. Google them and I'm sure you'll find a lot of helpful information. I think I did pretty well and had a good understanding of it going into the test

Cardigan2 · Nov 28, 2007

You should try Fluids and Electrolytes with clincal Applications 7th edition. Author is Joyce LeFever Kee, Betty J Paulanka and Laryy D. Purnell.

Hope that helps you

Cardigan2

Does anyone know of a web site, or a good book that will in detail explain the acid base balance / electrolyte stuff. I'm strugging with it and I have a big test next week. any and all help would be so great

iHeartNICU · Nov 29, 2007

are you having a proble with figuring out if an actual ABG is metabolic acidosis, respiratory acidosis, etc?

Here's how my instructor explained it....I hope this makes sense when I type it.

EX 1 pH: 7.28 (A)

pCO2: 60 (A)

HCO3: 24 (N)

- ok, first evaluate the pH: in this case it's acidic so put an "A" up by the value

- Next look at the pCO2: 60 means it's acid. again put an "A" by the value

- lastly look at the HCO3: 24 is normal so put an "N"

* now see what you have the most of: in this case it's "A" so acids

* now look where the acid is coming from. Look where the "A" (not the ph "A" but the other one. It's on the CO2. CO2 means it's respiratory and we already determined it was acidic so you have RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS.

-now to determine compensation look at your other value: in this case it's the bicarb and it's in normal range. Therefore, the kidneys have not kicked in yet to compensate so you have no compensation.

**So in the end you have RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS WITH NO COMPENSATION

Does that make any sense at all? It's hard to type the way my instructor explained it. Here's another example.

EX 2

pH: 7.45 (normal but leaning to basic so we'll say "B")

pCO2: 28 (B)

HCO3: 18 (A)

*so, you have more "B"s meaning it's basic. The base is coming from blowing off too much CO2 from the lungs. So it's RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS.

*For compensation you're looking at the bicarb and you can tell (because the bicarb is low) that the kidneys have kicked in to compensate. The pH is also WNL so that means the kidneys have completely compensated.

*In the end you have RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS WITH COMPLETE COMPENSATION

I have many more examples if this helps you. Just PM me and I'll gladly send them your way. Best of luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Nov 29, 2007

see post #24 on this sticky thread for a list of the acid/base tutorial links you are looking for

https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/pathophysiology-p-fluid-electrolyte-resources-145201.html - pathophysiology/a & p/fluid & electrolyte resources (in nursing student assistance forum)

catzy5 · Nov 29, 2007

are you having a proble with figuring out if an actual ABG is metabolic acidosis, respiratory acidosis, etc?
Here's how my instructor explained it....I hope this makes sense when I type it.
EX 1 pH: 7.28 (A)
pCO2: 60 (A)
HCO3: 24 (N)
- ok, first evaluate the pH: in this case it's acidic so put an "A" up by the value
- Next look at the pCO2: 60 means it's acid. again put an "A" by the value
- lastly look at the HCO3: 24 is normal so put an "N"
* now see what you have the most of: in this case it's "A" so acids
* now look where the acid is coming from. Look where the "A" (not the ph "A" but the other one. It's on the CO2. CO2 means it's respiratory and we already determined it was acidic so you have RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS.
-now to determine compensation look at your other value: in this case it's the bicarb and it's in normal range. Therefore, the kidneys have not kicked in yet to compensate so you have no compensation.
**So in the end you have RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS WITH NO COMPENSATION
Does that make any sense at all? It's hard to type the way my instructor explained it. Here's another example.
EX 2
pH: 7.45 (normal but leaning to basic so we'll say "B")
pCO2: 28 (B)
HCO3: 18 (A)
*so, you have more "B"s meaning it's basic. The base is coming from blowing off too much CO2 from the lungs. So it's RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS.
*For compensation you're looking at the bicarb and you can tell (because the bicarb is low) that the kidneys have kicked in to compensate. The pH is also WNL so that means the kidneys have completely compensated.
*In the end you have RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS WITH COMPLETE COMPENSATION
I have many more examples if this helps you. Just PM me and I'll gladly send them your way. Best of luck!

This is really fantastic thank you for taking the time to explain that!

I start ns in January, have been trying to brush up on things, I have been studying my AP on this chapter, as I remember it being so tricky, and this really puts it all together! I have printed it out and will have it for when we go over this section in the spring.

Catherine