The nurse is reviewing the postsurgical laboratory values of an older adult client. The client's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is 20 mm/hr. The nurse initially responds to this data by:
a. asking the client if he or she has been di-agnosed with any chronic inflammatory diseases.
b. recognizing that the value is normal for older adults.
c. notifying the client's health care provider immediately.
d. requesting that the laboratory rerun the test.
ANS: B
The ESR can be slightly elevated (10-20 mm/hr) in healthy older adults, especially those with a chronic disease that results in inflammation. Asking the client if he or she has such a diagnosis is not the initial response. This slight elevation does not warrant immediate notification or rerunning of the test.
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