A patient taking a thiazide diuretic has the following blood laboratory values for kidney function. Which value does the nurse report to the prescriber immediately?
a. Sodium 136 mEq/L
b. Potassium 2.6 mEq/L
c. Creatinine 0.9 mg/dL
d. Blood urea nitrogen 6 mg/dL
B
Normal blood levels of potassium range between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/L. The value listed here, 2.6 mEq/L, is low (hypokalemia) and can weaken the skeletal muscles of respiration. Most likely, the diuretic therapy caused the kidneys to excrete too much potassium. Although the blood urea nitrogen level also is lower than normal, it does not pose an immediate health threat.
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