Final answer:
Presence of microalbuminuria in a hypertensive patient is an early warning sign of decreased heart compliance and is a signal for the nurse to immediately notify the health care provider.
Step-by-step explanation:
The laboratory result that serves as an early warning sign of decreased heart compliance in a hypertensive patient is d. Presence of microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria is the presence of a small amount of albumin in the urine, which is an early indicator of kidney damage and can be associated with increased cardiovascular risk, especially in hypertensive patients.
As kidneys are closely linked to regulating blood pressure, microalbuminuria suggests that the cardiovascular system, including the heart, is under strain. The nurse should immediately notify the health care provider of this finding because it may require prompt intervention to prevent further cardiac and renal complications.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which is related to atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), is released by the heart's ventricles in response to stretching caused by increased blood volume and can be an indicator of heart failure and extracellular fluid volume expansion. Normal levels of BNP would not typically signal an emergency. Elevated T4 and decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit can indicate other health issues but are not direct markers of heart compliance.