A high school male adolescent arrives at the emergency department following a fall sustained while rock climbing. The physician prescribes diagnostic tests to rule out acute kidney injury (AKI). Which diagnostic finding does the nurse report immediately to the health-care provider?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The serum potassium level of 5.7 mEq/L is significantly elevated and indicates hyperkalemia, which can be life-threatening and is associated with cardiac arrhythmias. This finding should be reported immediately to the healthcare provider, especially in the context of potential acute kidney injury (AKI) where potassium levels can rise due to decreased kidney function.

A High School Male Adolescent Arrives at the Emergency Department