A Patient Is Having a Severe Asthma Attack

question 2

Multiple Choice

A patient is having a severe asthma attack. What blood gas results would indicate to the respiratory therapist and physician that the patient is having great difficulty?
1) Increased carbon dioxide level
2) Decreased carbon dioxide level
3) Increased pH
4) Decreased oxygen level

• A)4
• B)2, 3
• C)1, 4
• D)1, 3, 4

---

Definitions:

Significance Level

The threshold under which the p-value falls to reject the null hypothesis, typically set at 0.05 or 5%.

Critical Value

A threshold in a statistical test that defines the boundary between where a statistical hypothesis would be considered significantly different or not.

Null Hypothesis

A default hypothesis that there is no significant difference or effect, to be tested against the alternative hypothesis.

Test Statistic

A value, derived from sample data, used in hypothesis testing to determine whether to reject the null hypothesis.