The nurse is administering subcutaneous enoxaparin to a client following knee replacement surgery to prevent a deep vein thrombosis. Which laboratory result requires immediate action by the nurse?

Reference Range:

Hematocrit [42% to 52% (0.42 to 0.52 volume fraction)]

Platelets [150,000 to 400,000/mm (150 to 400 x 10L)

Creatinine (0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL (44 to 97 μmol/L)]

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) [10 to 20 mg/dl (3.6 to 7.1 mmol/L)]

A) Provide information on increasing medication dosage if ketoacidosis occurs: While it is important for clients with diabetes to understand the signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and how to respond, increasing insulin dosage on their own without healthcare provider guidance could be dangerous. Adjusting insulin dosage should always be done under the direction of a healthcare provider.

B) Teach the client self-injection skills for daily subcutaneous administration: Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin used for basal (background) insulin coverage in clients with diabetes. Teaching the client how to self-administer insulin injections is essential for effective management of diabetes, especially when using long-acting insulin formulations like insulin glargine. Proper injection technique, site rotation, and storage of insulin are important aspects of this teaching.

C) Demonstrate how to select dose based on before meal blood sugar readings: Insulin glargine is typically administered once daily at the same time each day and is not adjusted based on before meal blood sugar readings. Instead, it provides a steady level of insulin over 24 hours to help control blood sugar levels between meals and overnight.

D) Explain to the family how to inject this medication for severe hypoglycemia: Insulin glargine is not used for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia. Instead, it is a long-acting insulin used to maintain basal insulin levels in clients with diabetes. Severe hypoglycemia is treated with fast-acting glucose sources such as oral glucose tablets, gel, or glucagon injections, and the family should be educated on these treatments instead.

A) Increased frequency of lacrimation is not typically associated with miotic therapy. Miotics work by constricting the pupil and increasing outflow of aqueous humor to reduce intraocular pressure, but they do not directly affect lacrimation (tear production). Therefore, this option is not the etiology for the “Risk for injury” nursing problem.

B) Decreased night vision is a common side effect of miotic therapy. Miotics constrict the pupil, which can reduce the amount of light entering the eye, leading to impaired night vision or difficulty seeing in low-light conditions. This impaired vision increases the risk of injury, particularly in situations with reduced lighting.

C) Increased sensitivity to light (photophobia) is not typically associated with miotic therapy. Miotics constrict the pupil, which may actually reduce sensitivity to light by decreasing the amount of light entering the eye. Therefore, increased sensitivity to light is not the etiology for the “Risk for injury” nursing problem in this case.

D) Diminished color perception is not a common side effect of miotic therapy. Miotics primarily affect pupil constriction and intraocular pressure but do not typically alter color perception. Therefore, diminished color perception is not the etiology for the “Risk for injury” nursing problem.