Question

The nurse assesses laboratory results for an adult patient who takes lithium 600 mg twice a day. The patient has taken this dose of lithium for 3 years. Which laboratory value should alert the nurse to confer promptly with the health care provider?

a.Hemoglobin 15 g/dL
b.Serum sodium 142 mEq/L
c.Fasting glucose 99 mg/dL
d.Serum creatinine 1.95 mg/dL

Answer 1

The serum creatinine level of 1.95 mg/dL is above the normal range and should alert the nurse to potential renal function impairment, necessitating immediate communication with the healthcare provider.

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory value that should alert the nurse to confer promptly with the health care provider is d. Serum creatinine 1.95 mg/dL. This value is elevated as the normal plasma creatinine levels should be between 0.8-1.2 mg/dL for males and 0.6-0.9 mg/dL for females, indicating that the patient's renal function may be compromised.

Lithium is excreted by the kidneys, and consequently, any renal function impairment can lead to increased lithium levels in the body and potential lithium toxicity. The other laboratory values provided, including hemoglobin 15 g/dL (normal hemoglobin level), serum sodium 142 mEq/L (normal sodium level), and fasting glucose 99 mg/dL (within the normal glucose range), are within normal limits and would not typically require urgent attention in this context.