An increase in which serum lab value indicates to the nurse that a prescription for atorvastatin is having the desired effect for a client at risk for coronary artery disease?

A. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): Atorvastatin's primary effect is to decrease LDL cholesterol levels. A decrease in LDL levels would indicate the medication is working as intended, not an increase.
B. Prothrombin time (PT): PT is a measure of blood clotting, which is not directly affected by atorvastatin. This value is more relevant for monitoring anticoagulant therapy.

C. Creatine phosphokinase (CK): CK levels can be used to monitor for muscle damage or side effects related to statin use. An increase in CK levels would suggest muscle damage, not the effectiveness of the statin.
D. High-density lipoprotein (HDL): Atorvastatin is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol levels, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is a key target in reducing the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). While the primary goal of atorvastatin is to lower LDL cholesterol, an increase in HDL cholesterol (often termed "good" cholesterol) is also desirable as it can help reduce the risk of CAD. Therefore, an increase in HDL is a positive indicator that the medication is having a beneficial effect.

A. Ensure that the client eats breakfast: Regular insulin is a fast-acting insulin that typically begins to work within 30 minutes to an hour after administration, peaks around 2-3 hours, and can last for up to 6 hours. Therefore, it is crucial that the client eats a meal, such as breakfast, shortly after the insulin is administered to prevent hypoglycemia.
B. Provide a mid-afternoon snack for the client: While snacks may be necessary depending on the client's overall meal and insulin schedule, it is more critical to ensure the client eats the meal immediately following insulin administration to manage blood glucose levels.
C. Assess the client for hypoglycemia around 1500: While monitoring for hypoglycemia is important, it is more critical to ensure the client eats their meal soon after insulin administration to prevent hypoglycemia in the first place.
D. Perform a glucometer reading at 1000: A glucometer reading at 1000 might be useful for monitoring blood glucose levels but ensuring that the client eats a meal promptly is a more immediate and critical action following insulin administration.