A nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a client who has metabolic alkalosis. Which of the following blood gas values should the nurse expect?

A. pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 32 mm Hg, HCO₃ 24 mEq/L: The elevated pH indicates alkalosis, but HCO₃ is within normal limits. This pattern suggests respiratory alkalosis with compensatory changes rather than metabolic alkalosis. B. pH 7.36, PaCO₂ 38 mm Hg, HCO₃ 25 mEq/L: These values are within normal limits, indicating acid-base balance. They do not reflect metabolic alkalosis and would not explain clinical signs of alkalemia. C. pH 7.46, PaCO₂ 36 mm Hg, HCO₃ 29 mEq/L: The elevated pH indicates alkalosis, and the increased HCO₃ identifies a metabolic origin. The PaCO₂ is near normal, suggesting minimal respiratory compensation, which is consistent with metabolic alkalosis. D. pH 7.26, PaCO₂ 35 mm Hg, HCO₃ 18 mEq/L: The low pH and low HCO₃ indicate metabolic acidosis, not alkalosis. These values are inconsistent with the expected findings for metabolic alkalosis.