While changing a client's postoperative dressing, the nurse observes purulent drainage at the wound. Before reporting this finding to the healthcare provider, the nurse should note which of the client's laboratory values?

The presence of purulent drainage at the wound indicates a potential infection, and monitoring the client's WBC count is an important laboratory value to assess for signs of infection. An elevated WBC count, specifically an increase in the neutrophil count (neutrophilia), can indicate an active infection and provide important information for the healthcare provider when evaluating the wound. While hematocrit, platelet count, and creatinine level are essential laboratory values to assess the client's overall condition, they may not provide specific information regarding the presence of infection or purulent drainage at the wound site.