A nurse is caring for a client who has respiratory acidosis. Which of the following pH levels should the nurse expect?

In respiratory acidosis, the primary issue is an accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the body due to inadequate ventilation, which leads to an increase in hydrogen ion concentration. This condition results in a decrease in blood pH, making it more acidic.

A normal blood pH range is typically between 7.35 and 7.45. In cases of respiratory acidosis, the pH falls below this range. The selected answer of pH 7.31 illustrates a value that indicates a more acidic environment, which is consistent with the clinical picture of respiratory acidosis. It reflects a significant deviation from the normal range, confirming the presence of the condition.

A pH of 7.29, while also indicating acidemia, suggests a more severe level of acidosis than what is typically observed in many patients with respiratory acidosis, and may suggest a more urgent clinical situation. A pH of 7.35 is on the borderline of normal and might not fully represent respiratory acidosis if it's just slightly decreased. Lastly, a pH of 7.45 falls within the normal range and indicates no acidosis, thus not aligning with the expected findings in a patient experiencing respiratory acidosis.

Therefore, the pH