MOD-009 Fundamentals

Acid-Base Balance Interpretation and ABG Analysis Essentials

38 lessons 1 hr 57 min 3 assessments Updated Sep 2026
Health Assessment & Basic Clinical Skills

Free with your NMS plan — enrolling opens the first lesson.

What you’ll learn

LO1 — Explain the respiratory and metabolic regulation of pH and identify the major ABG variables used to assess ventilation, oxygenation and acid-base status.
LO2 — Interpret adult ABGs systematically to identify acidemia/alkalemia, the primary respiratory or metabolic disorder, expected compensation and common mixed disorders.
LO3 — Relate ABG abnormalities to common clinical causes including respiratory failure, COPD, sepsis/lactic acidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, vomiting and renal dysfunction.
LO4 — Recognize critical ABG patterns and specimen/pre-analytical problems that require immediate validation, ABCDE assessment and escalation.
LO5 — Document and communicate ABG findings safely using clinical context, oxygen delivery/FiO2, trends and SBAR, while adapting to GCC employer and laboratory policies.

Watch, revise, take away

The module deck and the study material, outside the lesson list.

Module presentation 40 slides, narrated. Plays itself, or step through. Flashcards and bedside Arabic 20 cards · 15 terms · download as PDF or Anki

Syllabus

9 chapters · 38 lessons · 1 hr 57 min

Start here

2 items
About this module
5 min Page
Learning outcomes and how you are assessed
3 min Page

Acid–base physiology

5 items
Why Acid-Base Balance Matters
3 min Page
Core ABG Variables
3 min Page
The Bicarbonate Buffer System
3 min Page
Respiratory Regulation
3 min Page
Metabolic and Renal Regulation
3 min Page

A repeatable interpretation method

2 items
A Six-Step ABG Interpretation Method
3 min Page
The ROME Memory Aid - Useful but Limited
3 min Page

The four primary disorders

4 items
Primary Respiratory Acidosis
3 min Page
Primary Respiratory Alkalosis
3 min Page
Primary Metabolic Acidosis
3 min Page
Primary Metabolic Alkalosis
3 min Page

Compensation, mixed disorders and the anion gap

4 items
Expected Compensation - Why It Matters
3 min Page
Mixed Acid-Base Disorders
3 min Page
Anion Gap
3 min Page
Worked ABG Cases
3 min Page

Oxygenation and specimen safety

4 items
Oxygenation: PaO2 Is Not the Same as Ventilation
3 min Page
ABG versus VBG
3 min Page
ABG Sampling and Pre-Analytical Safety
3 min Page
Common Pre-Analytical Errors
3 min Page

Critical results and GCC practice

2 items
Critical Results and Deterioration
3 min Page
GCC Practice Considerations
3 min Page

Apply it — clinical scenarios and simulation

3 items
Drowsy After Opioids
3 min Page
DKA and Compensation
4 min Page
Digital clinical simulation
3 min Page

Revise, reference and prove it

12 items
Quick reference
3 min Page
Revision flashcards
3 min Page
If you get it wrong — targeted remediation
3 min Page
Arabic at the bedside
3 min Page
Badge and completion criteria
3 min Page
Standards crosswalk and employer readiness
3 min Page
Evidence base and trusted resources
3 min Page
Recruiter / employer-readiness rubric
3 min Page
Final self-check
3 min Page
Visual summary — the rest of the deck
9 min Page
Watch the MOD-009 presentation (with narration)
URL
Flashcards and bedside Arabic — study and download
URL

Lessons unlock when you enrol.

Course assessments

Practice checks inside this module. They don’t change your verified NMS score — only re-sitting the verified assessment does.

MOD-009 · Pre-course diagnostic

5 questions · 5 marks · pass 0% · Start here

Enrol to take
MOD-009 · Mid-course checkpoint

10 questions · 10 marks · pass 70% · Compensation, mixed disorders and the anion gap

Enrol to take
MOD-009 · End-of-module assessment

41 questions · 50 marks · pass 80% · Revise, reference and prove it

Enrol to take

About this module

MOD-009 is module 4 of 5 in 1.2 Health Assessment & Basic Clinical Skills, inside Domain 1: Nursing Fundamentals & Clinical Essentials.

Adult acid-base physiology, systematic arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretation, oxygenation/ventilation assessment, compensation, anion-gap reasoning, specimen safety and deterioration recognition. Reference intervals vary by laboratory, altitude and clinical context. This module does not authorize independent arterial puncture, ventilator adjustment, bicarbonate therapy or electrolyte correction outside local scope and prescription.

The course runs the full NMS competency journey: a diagnostic that maps your starting point, 21 illustrated lessons built from the approved course pack, 2 branching clinical scenarios, a digital simulation, quick-reference and flashcard revision, and a 41-question summative assessment at an 80% pass mark.

Audience: Internationally educated registered nurses preparing for GCC clinical practice and licensure.

Teaching team

AD

admin

Lead instructor

DN

Dr. Shivam Natarajan

Co-instructor

Completing this module earns study credit on your learning plan. Your verified competency score changes only when you re-sit the NMS assessment.

Competency
Fundamentals
Lessons
38
Study time
1 hr 57 min
Chapters
9
Assessments
3
Updated
Sep 07, 2026

Acid-Base Balance Interpretation and ABG Analysis Essentials

38 lessons · 1 hr 57 min