A nurse admits a client to the emergency department who reports nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain that worsens when lying down. The provider suspects acute pancreatitis. Which of the following laboratory test results should the nurse expect to see?

Choice A: Instruct the client to lean forward This action is not related to the assessment of asterixis. Leaning forward can be part of the physical examination for other conditions, such as assessing for spinal issues or abdominal pain, but it does not provoke the characteristic flapping motion of the hands seen in asterixis.

Choice B: Ask the client to extend the arms This is the correct method to assess for asterixis. The patient is asked to extend their arms and dorsiflex their wrists. The nurse then observes for any involuntary flapping movements of the hands, which would indicate the presence of asterixis. This sign is indicative of a disturbance in the central nervous system’s regulation of muscle tone, often due to metabolic liver dysfunction. To assess for asterixis, the nurse should ask the client to extend their arms, which is the standard method for eliciting this sign. The presence of asterixis can help in the diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy and other metabolic conditions affecting the brain’s control of muscle tone.

Choice C: Dorsiflex the client’s foot Dorsiflexion of the foot is not a method used to assess for asterixis. While changes in muscle tone can be assessed in the lower limbs, asterixis is specifically a hand tremor and is best observed in the upper extremities.

Choice D: Measure the abdominal girth Measuring abdominal girth is relevant in the assessment of ascites, which can occur in cirrhosis, but it is not a method for assessing asterixis. Ascites refers to the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, leading to increased abdominal size, which is a common complication of cirrhosis.

Choice A: RBC count The red blood cell (RBC) count is not typically decreased by hemodialysis. Hemodialysis does not remove cells from the blood. However, patients with chronic kidney disease often have anemia, which is a low RBC count, due to a decrease in the production of erythropoietin by the kidneys. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce RBCs. Anemia in these patients is treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, not dialysis.

Choice B: Protein Protein levels are not directly affected by hemodialysis. However, patients on hemodialysis may have lower protein levels due to dietary restrictions or protein loss during the treatment. It is important for patients to manage their protein intake to prevent malnutrition and maintain overall health.

Choice C: Potassium Potassium levels are expected to decrease following hemodialysis. Potassium is an electrolyte that is normally filtered out by the kidneys. In patients with kidney failure, potassium levels can build up in the blood and cause serious heart problems. Hemodialysis removes excess potassium from the blood, which helps to prevent complications such as cardiac arrhythmia. The normal range for serum potassium is 3.5 to 5.0 mmol/L. After a hemodialysis treatment, a nurse should expect to find a decrease in potassium levels in the laboratory data of a client. This is because hemodialysis effectively removes excess potassium, which can accumulate in the blood due to reduced kidney function. Maintaining proper potassium levels is crucial for preventing heart complications in patients with kidney failure.

Choice D: Calcium Calcium levels are not typically decreased by hemodialysis. In fact, calcium levels can be affected by the dialysate used during hemodialysis. Some dialysates contain calcium, and this can actually increase the patient’s blood calcium levels. Patients with kidney failure may also have secondary hyperparathyroidism, which affects calcium levels, and they may be treated with calcium supplements or vitamin D analogs to manage their calcium levels.