What condition should a nurse suspect if a client’s arterial blood gas values indicate a pH of 7.24?

A pH of 7.24 indicates acidemia, as it is below the normal range of approximately 7.35 to 7.45. In this context, metabolic acidosis is characterized by a decrease in pH due to an excess of acid or a loss of bicarbonate in the body. This condition can occur in various situations, such as uncontrolled diabetes (diabetic ketoacidosis), renal failure, or excessive diarrhea, where bicarbonate is lost.

When assessing arterial blood gases (ABGs), a low pH suggests that the blood is more acidic, which is consistent with metabolic acidosis. The other conditions listed would generally present with either a higher pH (as in respiratory alkalosis and metabolic alkalosis) or symptoms that complicate the understanding but would not result in such low pH values aligned with acidosis. Therefore, with a confirmed pH of 7.24, the primary focus should be on identifying causes of metabolic acidosis and intervening accordingly.