A patient is being cared for in the emergency department with acute abdominal pain and a provisional diagnosis of pancreatitis.
The nurse assesses the patient and obtains the results from laboratory studies.
Which information is most valuable in reporting the patient’s status to the healthcare provider?

Measuring oxygen saturation is not directly relevant to the administration of vancomycin or the monitoring of its potential side effects. While oxygen saturation is important to assess in patients with respiratory concerns, it does not provide information about kidney function, which is essential for safe vancomycin use.

Choice B rationale:

Auscultating bowel sounds, while a part of general abdominal assessment, is not the most crucial action before administering vancomycin. Vancomycin is not known to have significant effects on bowel motility, and its primary concern is nephrotoxicity.

Choice C rationale:

Assessing body temperature can be helpful in evaluating for infection, but it is not the most specific or sensitive indicator of vancomycin-related adverse effects. Fever can be a sign of various conditions, and it does not directly assess kidney function.

Choice D rationale:

Checking serum creatinine is the most essential action before administering vancomycin because it allows for assessment of kidney function. Vancomycin is primarily excreted by the kidneys, and impaired renal function can lead to elevated drug levels and increased risk of nephrotoxicity. By checking serum creatinine, the nurse can ensure that the patient's kidney function is adequate to safely excrete vancomycin and can adjust the dosage or frequency of administration if necessary.

Choice A rationale:

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) is a blood test that reflects a person's average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. It's considered the gold standard for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes.

An HbA1C level of 8.29% is significantly elevated above the reference range of 4-5.99%, indicating a high probability of diabetes.

The patient's HbA1C has also increased from 7.59% three months ago, suggesting a worsening of glycemic control.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to impaired insulin production or action, or both.

Common symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds.

Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes are crucial to prevent complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, and vision loss.

Choice B rationale:

Hypoglycemia refers to abnormally low blood glucose levels, typically below 70 mg/dL. It's often caused by excessive insulin or medication, missed meals, or strenuous exercise.

The patient's HbA1C level of 8.29% does not support a diagnosis of hypoglycemia.

Choice C rationale:

Hyperglycemia refers to abnormally high blood glucose levels, typically above 180 mg/dL. It can be caused by diabetes, stress, infection, or certain medications.

While the patient's HbA1C level does indicate hyperglycemia, it's specifically the pattern of elevated HbA1C over time that points to a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, rather than transient hyperglycemia.

Choice D rationale:

Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at increased risk of developing diabetes.

The patient's HbA1C level of 8.29% is above the threshold for prediabetes, which is typically 5.7-6.4%.