A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has a pressure ulcer. The nurse should identify an elevation in which of the following laboratory values as an indication that the client has developed an infection?

A. Independently disposing of the remaining medication may not be in compliance with facility policies and could potentially interfere with an investigation into how the medication was left unattended.

B. Returning the medication to the unit's stock for future use is not appropriate, as the vial is already open and its integrity may be compromised.

C. Administering the medication to other clients is absolutely not an option. This could lead to serious harm or even fatal consequences for the other clients involved.

D. When a nurse discovers an open vial of medication left unattended, it is a serious safety concern. The nurse should report the discrepancy immediately to the appropriate personnel or supervisor. This ensures that the situation is addressed promptly and that necessary actions are taken to prevent potential harm to clients.

A. He is hard of hearing:
This is unlikely. While hearing impairment could explain some difficulty in communication, it would not explain the flinching upon abdominal palpation or the wandering behavior. Hearing-impaired clients typically respond to nonverbal cues or attempt to communicate their understanding in other ways.

B. Confusion:
This is correct. The client's wandering behavior, lack of verbal response, and smiling/nodding without clear understanding are indicative of confusion, which is common in older adults experiencing delirium, dementia, or other cognitive impairments. The flinching during abdominal palpation suggests a physical issue, but the client's inability to articulate his discomfort further supports confusion as a contributing factor.

C. Pain:
While pain could explain the flinching during palpation, it does not account for the wandering behavior or the lack of meaningful verbal communication. Pain may coexist with confusion but is not the primary explanation for his overall behavior.

D. Language barrier:
A language barrier could explain difficulty in verbal communication, but it does not account for the wandering behavior or the flinching upon palpation. Additionally, the family’s ability to communicate with the healthcare team suggests this is not the most likely factor