Exhibits

A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider? (Click on the "Exhibit" button for additional information about the client. There are three tabs that contain separate categories of data.)

A.    Prealbumin levels are often used as a marker of nutritional status and can indicate protein deficiency. A low prealbumin level may suggest malnutrition or inadequate protein intake. However, the prealbumin level of 25 mg/dL is within the normal range (normal range typically 15-35 mg/dL), so it does not require immediate reporting to the provider.
B.    The client's temperature of 37.6°C (99.7°F) is slightly elevated but is not indicative of a fever (typically defined as ≥38°C or 100.4°F). This finding may suggest a mild increase in body temperature, which could be related to various factors such as dehydration, infection, or environmental factors. Since it's only slightly elevated and within a
 
borderline range, it may not require immediate reporting unless other concerning symptoms are present.
C.    Urine specific gravity measures the concentration of solutes in the urine and can indicate hydration status. A specific gravity of 1.035 is considered high and may suggest concentrated urine, which could be a sign of dehydration or renal dysfunction. Therefore, this finding should be reported to the provider for further evaluation.
D.    Hypoactive bowel sounds indicate decreased or absent bowel motility and can be a sign of gastrointestinal dysfunction, such as ileus or obstruction. While it's important to monitor bowel sounds and report any significant changes to the provider, hypoactive bowel sounds alone may not always require immediate reporting unless other concerning symptoms are present.