A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for furosemide, which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor?
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: A. Arterial blood gases: While ABGs assess respiratory and metabolic balance, they are not routinely monitored for clients on furosemide. This test is more relevant for clients with severe respiratory or acid-base disorders, not as a direct indicator of diuretic therapy effects. B. Blood urea nitrogen: Furosemide is a loop diuretic that can affect kidney function by reducing circulating blood volume. Monitoring BUN helps assess renal perfusion and detect early signs of dehydration or nephrotoxicity associated with diuretic use. C. Prothrombin time: PT evaluates coagulation status, typically in clients taking anticoagulants like warfarin. Furosemide does not affect clotting pathways, so PT monitoring is unnecessary in this context unless the client is on anticoagulants for another condition. D. Thyroid stimulating hormone: TSH measures thyroid function but is not influenced by furosemide. There is no established link between furosemide and thyroid activity that would necessitate routine TSH monitoring for clients taking this medication.