The nurse is completing the preoperative checklist for an adult female

The nurse is completing the preoperative checklist for an adult female client who is scheduled for an operative procedure later in the morning.

Which of the following preoperative assessment findings for this client indicates a need to con-tact the surgeon?
1. Hemoglobin (Hgb) 14 g/100 mL
2. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 15 mg/100 mL
3. Platelets 300,000/mm3
4. Serum creatinine 3.2 mg/100 mL

ANSWER

ANS: 4
The normal serum creatinine in women is 0.5 to 1.1 mg/100 mL. A serum creatinine of 3.2 mg/100 mL should be reported to the health care provider, because it can be an indication of re-nal failure. A Hgb of 14 g/100 mL is within the normal limits of 12 to 16 g/100 mL for women. A BUN of 15 mg/100 mL is within the normal limits of 10 to 20 mg/100 mL. A platelet count of 300,000/mm3 is within the normal limits of 150,000 to 400,000/mm3.