A nurse is caring for multiple clients on a medical-surgical unit. Which client should the nurse identify as being at greatest risk for respiratory alkalosis?

Rationale: A. Chest wall trauma with broken ribs can cause hypoventilation due to pain, potentially leading to respiratory acidosis, not alkalosis. B. Excessive mechanical ventilation can lead to hyperventilation, which causes too much CO₂ to be expelled. This decreases the carbonic acid concentration in the blood, resulting in respiratory alkalosis. C. Renal insufficiency primarily contributes to metabolic acidosis due to poor acid excretion. D. Overuse of antacids is associated with metabolic alkalosis due to increased bicarbonate intake, not respiratory alkalosis.