An elderly female client comes to the clinic for a regular check-up. The client tells the nurse that she has increased her daily doses of acetaminophen (Tylenol) for the past month to control joint pain. Based on this client's comment, what previous lab values should the nurse compare with today's lab report?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. The nurse should look for an increase in today's LDH compared to the previous one to assess for possible liver damage. Acetaminophen overdose can lead to liver toxicity, which can be indicated by elevated LDH levels. LDH is an enzyme released during liver damage. Checking for LDH levels can help assess the impact of increased acetaminophen doses on the liver.
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect:
A: Looking at hemoglobin and hematocrit is not directly related to acetaminophen use for joint pain. It does not provide information about liver damage.
C: APTT measures blood clotting time and is not directly affected by acetaminophen use for joint pain. It does not provide information about liver damage.
D: Serum potassium levels are not typically affected by acetaminophen use for joint pain. It does not provide information about liver damage.