Nokea
A client with severe head trauma sustained in a car accident is admitted to the intensive care unit. Thirty six-hours later, the client's urine output suddenly rises above 200mL/hour, leading the nurse to suspect diabetes insipidus. Which laboratory findings support the nurse's suspicion of diabetes insipidus?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus is a condition characterized by the inability of the kidneys to adequately concentrate urine, leading to excessive dilute urine production. In diabetes insipidus, both urine and serum osmolality levels are typically below normal due to the dilution of urine. When urine output suddenly rises above 200mL/hour in a client with severe head trauma, it may indicate diabetes insipidus, especially if the urine and serum osmolality levels are below normal. This abnormality in osmolality levels is due to the impaired ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine, resulting in decreased urine osmolality and subsequent dilution of the serum osmolality.