The nurse is caring for a patient with left-sided lung cancer. Which finding would be most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?
a. Hematocrit 32%
b. Pain with deep inspiration
c. Serum sodium 126 mEq/L
d. Decreased breath sounds on left side
ANS: C
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (and the resulting hyponatremia) is an oncologic metabolic emergency and will require rapid treatment in order to prevent complications such as seizures and coma. The other findings also require intervention, but are common in patients with lung cancer and not immediately life threatening.
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