Which information will the nurse educator include when teaching staff nurses about hypercapnic respiratory failure?
a. Low arterial blood oxygen levels are the primary abnormality.
b. Arterial blood pH increases in response to decreased ventilation.
c. Ventilatory failure leads to carbon dioxide (CO₂) retention in arterial blood.
d. Oxygen transfer between the alveoli and the pulmonary capillaries is inadequate.
e. Arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO₂) is greater than 50mmHg and arterial pH is less than 7.35.
