A nurse administers desmopressin to a client who has a diagnosis of diabetes insipidus. The nurse recognizes that which of the following laboratory findings indicate a therapeutic effect of the medication?

A. Placing the patient in a lateral recovery position is the best immediate action. This position helps facilitate drainage of secretions, especially after a laryngectomy, which can reduce the risk of aspiration and airway obstruction. The blood-tinged mucus may be due to recent surgery and should be monitored for changes.
B. The activation of the rapid-response team may be necessary if the patient’s condition worsens or becomes critical, but there is no indication of an acute life-threatening event based on the blood-tinged mucus alone.
C. Monitoring the oxygen saturation and respiratory rate is important, but it is a secondary concern compared to providing a position that promotes drainage and prevents aspiration.
D. Increasing humidification of the oxygen may help keep the airway moist, but the immediate priority should be ensuring proper positioning to allow secretion drainage and prevent aspiration.

A. Moist mucous membranes: This is incorrect. In diabetes insipidus, the body loses large amounts of water due to a deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or its effects. As a result, the client often experiences dehydration, leading to dry mucous membranes, not moist ones.
B. Bounding peripheral pulses: This is incorrect. While bounding pulses are often seen in conditions like fluid overload or hypervolemia, diabetes insipidus typically causes dehydration due to excessive urination, which would not lead to bounding pulses. The pulses would more likely be weak or thready due to fluid loss.
C. Urine specific gravity 1.002: This is the correct finding. In diabetes insipidus, the kidneys are unable to concentrate urine, resulting in very dilute urine. A urine specific gravity of 1.002 indicates very diluted urine, which is characteristic of diabetes insipidus.
D. Bradycardia: This is incorrect. Bradycardia (slow heart rate) is not typically associated with diabetes insipidus. In fact, tachycardia (increased heart rate) can occur as a compensatory response to dehydration caused by excessive urination in diabetes insipidus.