A patient has just undergone a renal biopsy. Which laboratory values should the nurse prioritize monitoring to promptly identify potential complications related to the procedure?

Choice A rationale Arterial blood gases measure the acidity and levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, while carboxyhemoglobin measures carbon monoxide. These are primarily used to assess respiratory failure or toxic inhalations. Since a renal biopsy is a localized procedure on the kidney, it does not typically compromise the respiratory system or involve carbon monoxide exposure. Monitoring these values would not provide useful information regarding the most common complications of a renal biopsy, which is hemorrhage. Choice B rationale Serum calcium and phosphate are important for assessing chronic kidney disease and bone metabolism. The normal range for calcium is 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL and phosphate is 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL. While these are relevant to general kidney health, they do not change acutely in response to the trauma of a biopsy. Monitoring these exclusively would miss life threatening complications like internal bleeding or acute hematoma formation, which are the primary risks following the needle insertion. Choice C rationale A renal biopsy is a highly invasive procedure involving a vascular organ, making hemorrhage the priority concern. A CBC is essential to monitor hemoglobin (normal 12 to 18 g/dL) and hematocrit to detect occult bleeding. Creatinine (normal 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL) and BUN (normal 7 to 20 mg/dL) assess if the procedure caused acute functional impairment. Coagulation studies like PT and PTT are vital to ensure the patient can clot effectively, preventing a massive retroperitoneal hematoma post procedure. Choice D rationale Liver enzymes and lipid profiles are used to evaluate hepatic function and cardiovascular risk. These markers have no direct relationship to the renal parenchyma or the complications associated with a kidney biopsy. Monitoring for metabolic disturbances or liver damage would be an inappropriate use of resources, as the biopsy does not involve the liver or systemic lipid metabolism. The focus must remain on the urinary system and the vascular integrity of the biopsied kidney site.