A patient with a history of hemoptysis and pleuritic chest pain is assessed. What additional assessment finding would the nurse likely discover?

In a patient with a history of hemoptysis and pleuritic chest pain, several physiological responses can occur due to underlying pulmonary pathology, such as pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, or malignancy. Each of the assessment findings listed is plausible in this context.

Metabolic acidosis may arise from hypoxia, which can lead to anaerobic metabolism. This condition may produce measurable acidotic changes in the patient's blood gas levels, especially if there is significant respiratory distress or hypoxia due to pulmonary compromise.

Sinus tachycardia can be a compensatory response to hypoxia, pain, or anxiety. In the context of pleuritic chest pain and hemoptysis, the body may react with an increased heart rate to maintain adequate organ perfusion as the oxygen delivery may be compromised.

Hypoxemia refers to a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, commonly accompanying conditions involving the lungs, especially when hemoptysis is present, indicating possible significant pulmonary involvement. The presence of pleuritic chest pain can also be linked to conditions that disrupt normal ventilation and increase the risk of inadequate oxygenation.

Thus, all these findings—metabolic acidosis, sinus tachycardia, and hypoxemia—are interconnected responses