An Elderly Patient Is Brought to the Emergency Department with a Fractured

Multiple Choice

An elderly patient is brought to the emergency department with a fractured tibia. The patient appears malnourished, and the nurse is concerned about the patients healing process related to insufficient protein levels. What laboratory finding would the floor nurse prioritize when assessing for protein deficiency?

A) Hemoglobin
B) Bilirubin
C) Albumin
D) Cortisol