Exam 15: Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests

An 85-year-old patient's blood gasses are as follows: pH 7.4,PaO₂ 75 mmHg,PaCO₂ 38.A patient's brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)was elevated on admission from the emergency department.Two days later,it has been reduced by half.What explanation of these findings by the nurse is best?

The leukocyte count of an older adult patient is elevated.Understanding the effects of aging on body functions,what action by the nurse is best?

A patient is in the Emergency Department with chest pain and shortness of breath.Which laboratory result does the nurse review as the priority?

The nurse is caring for an 88-year-old patient who was admitted to the long-term care facility after a series of "accidents" at home.The resident's folic acid level is 2 ng/mL.What action by the nurse is best?

An older patient takes warfarin.The patient's international normalized ratio (INR)is 1.0.What action by the nurse is best?

The nurse helps minimize an older adult patient's risk of developing pernicious anemia by which of the following actions?

An older adult has been admitted for dehydration.Which laboratory value correlates with this condition?

A patient's oxygen saturation is 98%,but the patient reports shortness of breath with activity.What action by the nurse is best?

A patient was admitted for heart failure,and over the past 3 days the patient's brain natriuretic peptide has increased.What action by the nurse is best?

A patient has increased total iron binding capacity and transferrin levels.What action by the nurse is best?

A 71-year-old patient has a triglyceride level of 112 mg/dL.What action by the nurse is best?

An older patient's BUN is 28 mg/dL and creatinine is 0.6 mg/dL.How does the nurse interpret these findings?

An older patient has a pressure ulcer that is resistant to healing despite aggressive therapy and has developed pitting pedal edema.The patient's albumin is 3.4 g/dL.What action by the nurse is best?

The nurse suspects that an older postoperative patient is developing a wound infection.What data best supports this inference?

A 66-year-old patient has a calcium level of 7.8 mg/dL.The nurse anticipates which other lab result?

On assessing the laboratory data of an older adult patient,the nurse notes the serum potassium level is 5.3 mEq/L.What action by the nurse is best?

An older female patient develops gout and says,"Why did I get this now?" What response by the nurse is best?

An older adult patient is experiencing symptoms commonly associated with hyperglycemia.Which laboratory test is most reliable for detecting hyperglycemia in older adults?

A patient has heart failure and takes spironolactone.What diet selection from the menu shows that the patient needs more education?

The student asks the registered nurse for information about the older patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).What information does the nurse provide? (Select all that apply. )