The nurse is assigned a group of patients. Which patient finding would the nurse identify as a factor leading to increased risk for impaired gas exchange?

A) Blood glucose of 350 mg/dL
B) Anticoagulant therapy for 10 days
C) Hemoglobin of 8.5 g/dL
D) Heart rate of 100 beats/min and blood pressure of 100/60

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.

Anticoagulant Therapy

Medical treatment that prevents blood clots from forming, often used in patients with certain cardiovascular conditions.

Blood Glucose

Blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is the level of glucose present in the blood, essential for energy and closely regulated in the body.