A patient's arterial blood gas results are as follows: pH = 7.30; PCO₂ = 40; HCO₃ = 19 mEq/L; PO₂ = 80.An appropriate nursing diagnosis for the patient is which of the following?

A) Impaired Gas Exchange
B) Metabolic Acidosis
C) Risk for Impaired Gas Exchange
D) Risk for Acid-Base Imbalance

An appropriate diagnosis is Impaired Gas Exchange.The arterial blood gas (ABG)results provide the defining characteristics for Impaired Gas Exchange.The ABG results demonstrate metabolic acidosis; however,this is not a nursing diagnosis.The patient has an actual problem; therefore,the "risk for" nursing diagnoses are incorrect.Additionally,there is no nursing diagnosis of Acid-Base Imbalance or Risk for Acid-Base Imbalance.