RN HESI Community Health with NGN Related

Review RN HESI Community Health with NGN related questions and content

A home health nurse is examining the lab results of several patients with a history of heart failure (HF). Which patient's finding should the nurse immediately report to the healthcare provider?

  • A. Potassium level of 3.7 mEq/L (3.7 mmol/L).
  • B. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level of 550 pg/mL (550 ng/L).
  • C. Total cholesterol level of 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L).
  • D. Glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) level of 7%.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are used to diagnose and monitor heart failure. A BNP level of 550 pg/mL (550 ng/L) is significantly higher than the normal range, which is less than 100 pg/mL. High BNP levels indicate that the heart is working harder than normal, which is a common occurrence in heart failure. Therefore, this result should be reported immediately to the healthcare provider.