The nurse is caring for four clients: Client A, who has emphysema and whose oxygen saturation is 94%; Client B, with a postoperative hemoglobin of 8.2 mg/dL (82 g/L); Client C, newly admitted with a potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L (3.8 mmol/L); and Client D, scheduled for an appendectomy who has a white blood cell (WBC) count of 14,000 mm (14 x 10^9/L). Which intervention should the nurse implement? Reference Range:. Hemoglobin [14 to 18 g/dL (140 to 180 g/L)]. Potassium [3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L (3.5 to 5.0 mmol/L)]. White Blood Cell [5000 to 10,000/mm² (5 to 10 x 10^9/L)].

The correct answer is choice d. Verify that Client B has two units of packed cells available. Choice A rationale: Moving Client D into an isolation room 24 hours before surgery is not necessary solely based on an elevated WBC count. Elevated WBCs indicate infection or inflammation, but isolation is not typically required unless there is a contagious infection. Choice B rationale: Client C’s potassium level of 3.8 mEq/L is within the normal range (3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L). Adding a banana, which is high in potassium, is not necessary. Choice C rationale: Client A with emphysema and an oxygen saturation of 94% does not require an increase in oxygen. Oxygen therapy should be carefully managed in clients with emphysema to avoid suppressing their respiratory drive. Choice D rationale: Client B has a postoperative hemoglobin of 8.2 mg/dL, which is significantly below the normal range (14 to 18 g/dL). This client may require a blood transfusion to address the low hemoglobin level, making it essential to verify the availability of packed red blood cells.