Final answer:
The nurse should monitor creatinine kinase (CK) levels in a client taking atorvastatin for hyperlipidemia, as statin use can be associated with myopathy, an adverse effect which results in elevated CK levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Monitoring Client Laboratory Values for Atorvastatin
A nurse caring for a client taking atorvastatin to treat hyperlipidemia should monitor a variety of laboratory values to assess the efficacy and safety of the medication. Among the tests, the most relevant to atorvastatin use is creatinine kinase (CK), which should be monitored because atorvastatin, like other statins, can rarely cause a condition called myopathy that can lead to rhabdomyolysis. This condition involves the breakdown of muscle tissues and is typically accompanied by an elevation in CK levels.
While blood potassium levels are important for various physiological processes, and imbalances can have significant health implications, routine monitoring of serum potassium is not specifically related to atorvastatin therapy. Potassium levels are influenced by factors like glucose or insulin administration and aldosterone, rather than statin use. Moreover, monitoring for hyperlipidemia treatment often includes regular blood lipid profile tests, which could include cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but not typically blood potassium.
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and international normalized ratio (INR) are not directly relevant to monitoring atorvastatin therapy. The ESR is a nonspecific test used to detect inflammation in the body, and the INR is used to monitor anticoagulation therapy. Thus, the laboratory value specifically relevant to atorvastatin that should be monitored by the nurse is creatinine kinase.