A nurse is caring for a client who has a diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal. Which serum laboratory value validates the client's admitting diagnosis? A serum:

Choice A rationale: Compensating for an ongoing problem affecting other fluid or electrolytes is a common rationale for IV therapy.

Choice B rationale: Increasing urine specific gravity to 1.045 is not a typical goal for IV therapy. IV therapy would decrease the urine specific gravity by diluting the urine with fluids.

Choice C rationale: Moving fluid into an area that is physiologically unavailable is not a primary goal of IV therapy. Physiologically unavailable areas are those that are separated from the rest of the body by a membrane or barrier, such as the cerebrospinal fluid, the intraocular fluid, or the pleural fluid. IV therapy does not cross these barriers and only affects the intravascular and interstitial spaces.

Choice D rationale: Correcting imbalance in fluid and electrolytes is a primary goal of IV therapy.

Choice E rationale: Expanding intravascular volume is a common goal of IV therapy, especially in cases of dehydration or hypovolemia.

Choice A rationale: Skin irritation is a possible side effect of nitroglycerin patches, but it is not the primary reason for removing the patch in this situation.

Choice B rationale: Interactions with other medications are not the primary concern when transitioning from a patch to an intravenous infusion.

Choice C rationale: The removal of the nitroglycerin patch is necessary to avoid drug overdose when starting an intravenous infusion.

Choice D rationale: The loss of the patch is not the primary concern; rather, it is the potential for an overdose.