Final answer:
The nurse should anticipate elevated levels of certain lab data in a patient with acute hepatic failure, including alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase. The lab results may also show decreased albumin/globulin ratio and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels. Additional tests can be conducted to detect antibodies for hepatitis viruses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should anticipate certain lab data in a patient with acute hepatic failure. These include elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), direct and total bilirubin, serum albumin, serum total protein, and calculated globulin. The lab results may also show a decreased albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Additionally, the nurse should monitor lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and liver enzymes to rule out other causes of jaundice.
Furthermore, a hepatitis virus serological test panel can be conducted to detect antibodies for hepatitis viruses A, B, C, and sometimes D. Other immunological and genomic tests may also be available for further evaluation.
It is important to note that ALT levels will rise significantly in cases of acute liver damage, such as viral hepatitis or overdose of certain medications. ALT elevations are often measured in multiples of the Upper Limit of Normal (ULN).