A 13-year-old patient presents to the emergency department in a disoriented state with tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension, and hypothermia. Upon assessment, the nurse notes the patient’s breath smells like acetone, the mucous membranes are dry, and the patient has poor skin turgor. The nurse knows which test is the priority?

The patient’s arterial blood gas and serum electrolyte results are as follows: pH 7.28, PCO2 = 32, PaO2 = 59, HCO3- = 16, SaO2 = 88%, Sodium = 149, Potassium 3.9, Chloride 112. Calculate this patient’s anion gap. Enter your answer using a whole number.

The nurse learns the patient uses nasal irrigation to help prevent sickness during flu season. Which statement by the nurse is the most important?