A patient in the ICU is on assist control ventilation mode with a rate of 14 and has become very nervous about his current condition. This anxiety causes him to increase his respiratory rate to nearly 28 times per minute. What is this most immediate concern? What should we do to alleviate this issue?
A) Hyperventilation; Decrease ventilator rate or sedate the patient
B) Hypoventilation; Increase ventilator rate
C) Hypoxia; Administer supplemental oxygen
D) Acidosis; Administer bicarbonate