Final answer:
The nurse should monitor blood glucose, serum potassium, and white blood cell count when caring for a client receiving methylprednisolone due to corticosteroid effects on blood sugar, electrolyte balance, and potential induction of leukocytosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse caring for a client receiving methylprednisolone should plan to monitor several laboratory findings due to the effects of corticosteroids on various body systems. Firstly, corticosteroids can cause an increase in blood glucose levels by stimulating gluconeogenesis and the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue, which warrants monitoring of the client’s blood glucose. Secondly, since methylprednisolone can lead to changes in electrolyte balance, monitoring serum potassium levels is also critical due to potential hypokalemia that can result from increased excretion of potassium. Lastly, considering that corticosteroids can induce leukocytosis, the nurse should monitor the white blood cell count (WBC) to manage and assess the risk of infection. Other laboratory tests such as creatine phosphokinase and amylase are not typically affected by methylprednisolone therapy and do not need routine monitoring in this context.