Final answer:
The appropriate action for a nurse who notices a creatinine level in a client's lab results depends on whether the level is within normal ranges. If it's high, indicating potential kidney issues, the nurse should notify the healthcare provider. If the level is within normal limits, no immediate action is required.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an ambulatory care nurse reviews a client's lab results and notices that the creatinine level is provided in mg/dl without a specific value, the appropriate action depends on whether the creatinine level is within the normal ranges or not. Normally, plasma creatinine levels should be 0.8-1.2 mg/dl for males and 0.6-0.9 mg/dl for females. If the value falls outside of this normal range, it may suggest a problem with kidney function. In such cases, if the result is high, it may be indicative of acute renal failure, and A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately is the right course of action. If the creatinine is within normal limits, then C. Do nothing, The result is WNLD. would be appropriate as it indicates that kidney function is adequate.