Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 83%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who is well-hydrated and who demonstrates no evidence of anemia. Which of the following laboratory values gives the nurse an assessment of the adequacy of the clientÔÇÖs protein uptake and synthesis?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D: Albumin. Albumin is a protein synthesized by the liver and its levels in the blood reflect the body's protein status. In a well-hydrated and non-anemic client, albumin levels can indicate protein uptake and synthesis. Sodium, potassium, and calcium are electrolytes and do not directly reflect protein status. Therefore, they are incorrect choices in this context.