The medical-surgical nurse is providing care to a postoperative patient who is experiencing an elevated temperature.Which laboratory value should the nurse monitor to gather more information?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

White blood cell (WBC) count is the most appropriate laboratory value to monitor when a patient is experiencing an elevated temperature as it can indicate the presence of an infection. The normal range for WBC count is 4,500 to 11,000 cells/mm³. An elevated WBC count could indicate an infection, inflammation, or an immune response. Other laboratory values (platelet count, serum glucose, RBC count) may provide important information for certain conditions, but they are not as directly related to an elevated temperature.

The Medical-Surgical Nurse Is Providing Care to a Postoperative Patient