A nurse is reviewing the laboratory test results from a client who has prerenal acute kidney injury (AKI). Which of the following electrolyte imbalances should the nurse expect?

A. Hyperkalemia: In prerenal AKI, reduced kidney perfusion impairs the kidneys’ ability to excrete potassium, leading to accumulation. Normal potassium levels range from 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L, and elevations can cause dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias. B. Hypercalcemia: This is not typically associated with prerenal AKI. In fact, calcium levels may decrease slightly due to impaired renal activation of vitamin D, not increase. Normal calcium ranges from 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL. C. Hypophosphatemia: AKI usually causes hyperphosphatemia due to reduced renal clearance. Normal phosphate levels are 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL. Phosphate tends to rise, not fall, in renal dysfunction. D. Hypernatremia: Sodium levels often remain normal or low in AKI due to fluid retention or dilutional effects. Hypernatremia (sodium >145 mEq/L) is less common and not characteristic of typical prerenal AKI presentations.