A 69-year-old patient in the geriatric clinic has an annual physical examination and a complete blood count and serum electrolytes are drawn. While the physical examination was uneventful the laboratory results show an elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
a. Ask that the test be rerun since the client showed no physical signs of renal failure.
b. Review the client's medication list since BUN can be affected by many spe-cific medications.
c. Instruct the client on collecting a 24-hour urine specimen for a more detailed analysis.
d. Assure the client that an elevated BUN is normal in older adults.
ANS: B
BUN can be elevated as a result of certain medication therapies and so the nurse should as-sess for this possibility. An elevated BUN is not diagnostic of renal failure alone and will not necessarily be reflected in physical symptoms. A 24-hour urine sample will not generally done to determine BUN levels. An elevated BUN is not expected as a normal part of aging. Renal functioning decreases substantially with aging, but in most cases the body is able to compensate adequately with only slight increases in laboratory findings.
You might also like to view...
A nurse reviews these laboratory values: digoxin level, 10 ng/mL; serum potassium, 6.2 . The nurse notifies the health care provider and anticipates administration of which drug?
a. K+ supplements b. Atropine c. Epinephrine d. Digoxin immune Fab (Digibind)
Which type of croup is always considered a medical emergency?
a. Laryngitis b. Epiglottitis c. Spasmodic croup d. Laryngotracheobronchitis (LTB)
On admission to the emergency department the burned client's blood pressure is 90/60, with an apical pulse rate of 122 . These findings are an expected result of what thermal in-jury–related response?
A. Fluid shift B. Intense pain C. Hemorrhage D. Carbon monoxide poisoning
A nurse prepares for an initial interaction with a patient with a long history of methamphetamine abuse. Which is the nurse's best first action?
a. Perform a thorough assessment of the patient. b. Verify that security services are immediately available. c. Self-assess personal attitude, values, and beliefs about this health problem. d. Obtain a face shield because oral hygiene is poor in methamphetamine abusers.