Question

question: 9 of 19
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a nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who reports drinking three to four glasses of wine each night and taking 3,000 mg of acetaminophen daily. which of the following laboratory values is the priority for the nurse to assess?
amylase
creatinine
aspartate aminotransferase (ast)
antidiuretic hormone (adh)

Explanation:

The client’s nightly wine consumption (alcohol) and high daily acetaminophen intake (3,000 mg, exceeding typical safe limits) both pose a risk of liver injury. AST is a liver enzyme whose elevation indicates hepatocellular damage, making it the priority lab value to assess for potential liver toxicity. Amylase assesses pancreatic function, creatinine reflects renal function, and ADH relates to fluid balance—none are as directly tied to the client’s combined alcohol and acetaminophen exposure as liver function.

Answer:

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)