Question

A nurse is caring for a child who is scheduled for a kidney biopsy. The prebiopsy laboratory results indicate a platelet count of 88,000, pH of 7.28, and potassium of 5.8 mEq/L. Based on these laboratory results, which action by the nurse is the most appropriate?

Answer 1

The most appropriate action by the nurse is to report the abnormal laboratory values, which include a low platelet count, acidosis, and elevated potassium levels, to the healthcare provider as they may require postponement of the biopsy and immediate treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory results for the child scheduled for a kidney biopsy reveal several concerns. Firstly, the platelet count of 88,000 is lower than the normal range (150,000 to 400,000 platelets per microliter of blood), indicating thrombocytopenia which could increase the risk of bleeding during and after the biopsy. The pH of 7.28 suggests that the patient is in a state of acidosis, as the normal arterial blood pH is 7.35 to 7.45. Lastly, the potassium level of 5.8 mEq/L is above the normal range of 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L, indicating hyperkalemia, which could be dangerous, leading to cardiac irregularities.

Given these laboratory results, the most appropriate action by the nurse would be to report these abnormal laboratory values to the healthcare provider immediately. This is crucial because the biopsy may need to be postponed until the thrombocytopenia and hyperkalemia are treated, and the acidosis is corrected, to prevent complications during the procedure.