The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with severe dehydration. She notes that the patient's albumin level is 4.0. What may this indicate?
a. The patient is in a compromised protein state.
b. The level may be falsely high.
c. An acute nutritional deficiency.
d. A long-term nutritional deficiency.
B
In patients who are dehydrated or who have received infusions of albumin, fresh frozen plasma, or whole blood, serum albumin levels will appear normal. Normal serum albumin values are between 3.5 and 5.0 g/dL. Albumin is a useful test for monitoring long-term nutrition changes because normal values still may be found among patients who are malnourished. For nutritional analysis, values between 2.8 and 3.5 g/dL indicate compromised protein status. Normal serum albumin values are between 3.5 and 5.0 g/dL.
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