Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 91%
Full-length
A client in the intensive care unit is overheard telling his wife, 'It's impossible to get any sleep in this place with all the noise and lights on all the time.' After talking with the client, the nurse determines that the client is bothered by sensory disturbance related to being in the ICU. Which laboratory finding would confirm the nurse's assessment of sensory disturbance?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
Sensory disturbance and stress in the ICU increase catecholamines (e.g., epinephrine), detectable in urine. Other labs are unrelated to sensory disturbance.