Question

A patient complains of tingling in the fingers as well as feeling depressed. The nurse assesses positive Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs. Which decreased laboratory results does the nurse observe when the patient's laboratory work has returned?

Answer 1

The nurse would observe a decreased level of serum calcium (hypocalcemia).

Step-by-step explanation:

Tingling in the fingers and depression, along with positive Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs, are indicative of hypocalcemia, a decrease in calcium level in the blood. In hypocalcemia, the serum calcium level would be low when the patient's laboratory work is returned.