A client is admitted to the emergency department with reports right lower quadrant pain. Blood specimens are drawn and sent to the laboratory.

Which laboratory finding should be reported to the health care provider immediately?

Answer: The answer is White Blood Cell (WBC) count 22.8/mm3

Explanation:

The nurse is to immediately report increase in the white blood cells. An elevated white blood cell count is a sign of infection. Since the pain is felt in the right lower quadrant it is safe to say it is a problem with the appendix as it is located in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. An elevated white blood cell count is a sign of infection because the body is releasing white blood cells to fight it off, this suggests a rupture of the client's appendix. The other options; Hematocrit of 42%, serum potassium of 4.2 mEq/L, and serum sodium of 135 mEq/L are within normal limits and any alterations to them doesn't indicate appendicitis.

The normal White Blood Cell Count ranges between 4500-11,000/mm3