Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Process Related

Review Test Bank for Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice - The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Process related questions and content

The nurse is reviewing the assessment data of a patient diagnosed with a mental illness. The patient is to be prescribed medication to treat the illness. The nurse would identify changes in which laboratory values as being the least significant?

  • A. Hemoglobin
  • B. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
  • C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level
  • D. Serum creatinine
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Hemoglobin levels, related to oxygen-carrying capacity, are less directly relevant to psychiatric medication management compared to liver function (ALT) and kidney function (BUN, creatinine), which affect drug metabolism and excretion. Abnormal hemoglobin may indicate anemia but is less critical for psychotropic drugs.