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Acute Respiratory Failure — NCLEX Cheat Sheet

PaO2 <60 or PaCO2 >50
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👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team 🕐 Updated 2026-07-11 🏷️ Physiological Adaptation 🔖 Free to read, print, and share
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Acute Respiratory Failure on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!

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Labs

Key numbers
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Signs

What to look for
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Do

Nursing actions
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Avoid

Key facts
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Quick Tip

Hypoxemic failure (type 1) shows PaO2 below 60; hypercapnic failure (type 2) shows PaCO2 above 50 with pH below 7.35.

📖 Related Topics

HypokalemiaHyperkalemiaHyponatremiaHeart Failure
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