An older adult patient has experienced severe nausea and vomiting for 2 days since undergoing abdominal surgery. A prealbumin serum blood test is ordered. The nurse explains the rationale for the test to the patient's family by saying
a. "The provider is interested in whether there is enough available protein in the blood."
b. "This test is designed to determine how the body is meeting current demands for protein."
c. "The test will tell us if the vomiting has created a problem with protein metabol-ism."
d. "Healing from such a surgery requires protein, and this test measures protein."
B
This test is sensitive to sudden demands on protein synthesis and is often used in the acute care setting. Healing from surgery does require sufficient protein stores, and this test can help the nurse, dietician, and provider determine if the patient needs extra nutritional support.
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