A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who has nephrotic syndrome.
Which of the following results should the nurse expect?

The nurse should begin discharge planning upon the client’s admission. This is because discharge planning is a key aspect of effective care that reduces the length of stay, emergency readmissions and pressure on hospital beds. Discharge planning involves considering what support might be required by the client in the community, referring the client to these services, and liaising with these services to manage the client’s discharge.

Choice A is wrong because the nurse is not responsible for providing a written prescription for a client home care referral. This is the role of the provider or another authorised prescriber.

Choice C is wrong because a home hazard appraisal does not include an assessment of the client’s financial resources. A home hazard appraisal is an evaluation of the safety and accessibility of the client’s home environment.

Choice D is wrong because a medication reconciliation is not required 24 hours prior to the client’s discharge. A medication reconciliation is a process of comparing the medications a client is taking with those prescribed for them to avoid errors or discrepancies. A medication reconciliation should be done at every transition of care, including admission, transfer and discharge.

The nurse should notify the provider because this value is lower than the normal range of 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. A low platelet count can indicate a risk of bleeding or a condition such as thrombocytopenia or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

Choice B is wrong because WBC count 9,800/mm³ is within the normal range of 4,500 to 11,000 cells per microliter of blood.

Choice C is wrong because Hgb 13 mg/dL is within the normal range of 12 to 16 mg/dL for females and 14 to 18 mg/dL for males.

Choice D is wrong because Hct 42% is within the normal range of 37% to 47% for females and 42% to 52% for males.