A client is 24 hours post burn and has the following laboratory results. Which result does the nurse report to the health care provider immediately?
a. Arterial pH, 7.32
b. Hematocrit, 52%
c. Serum potassium,7.5 mEq/L
d. Serum sodium, 131 mEq/L
C
The serum potassium level is changed to the degree that serious life-threatening responses could result. With such a rapid rise in potassium level, the client is at high risk for experiencing severe cardiac dysrhythmias and death. All the other findings are abnormal but do not show the same degree of severity; they would be expected in the emergent phase after a burn injury.
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