Question

A nurse reviews the laboratory results for a client who was burned 24 hours ago. Which laboratory result should the nurse report to the health care provider immediately?

1) Arterial pH: 7.32
2) Hematocrit: 52
3) Serum potassium: 6.5 mEq/L
4) Serum sodium: 131 mEq/L

Answer 1

The nurse should report the serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L to the health care provider immediately as this high level can be life-threatening.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should report the serum potassium level of 6.5 mEq/L to the health care provider immediately. This value is higher than the normal range, which is usually between 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. High serum potassium levels, also known as hyperkalemia, can be life-threatening and can cause cardiac arrhythmias. The burn injury may have caused tissue damage and release of potassium into the bloodstream.