Question

The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which of the following findings indicates the client is experiencing an adverse effect from the TPN?

Hypophosphatemia

Hyperglycemia

Hypokalemia

Hyperuricemia

Answer 1

Hyperglycemia is the adverse effect most commonly associated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and indicates that the client's blood sugar levels are elevated, potentially due to the high concentrations of glucose in TPN solutions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question pertains to identifying an adverse effect a client might be experiencing from total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Among the options provided, hyperglycemia indicates an adverse effect most directly associated with TPN. Hyperglycemia can occur as a result of highly concentrated glucose solutions administered during TPN, which may lead to elevated blood sugar levels. The body’s response to such a high influx of glucose often includes increased insulin secretion, but this may not be sufficient to maintain normal blood glucose levels, hence resulting in hyperglycemia.

Conditions such as hypophosphatemia and hypokalemia can occur in various clinical situations, but they are not specific to TPN and would require a broader clinical context to determine their link to TPN administration. Hyperuricemia, an increase in uric acid levels, could potentially be relevant if high nucleotide input from TPN overwhelms the purine breakdown pathway, but this is not as commonly reported as hyperglycemia in the context of TPN complications. Therefore, hyperglycemia is the finding that best indicates an adverse effect from TPN.