A nurse is reviewing the laboratory reports prior to physician rounds. The serum calcium level of a client with hyperparathyroidism is 14.6 mg/dl. Which treatment should the nurse anticipate?
Rationale: The normal serum calcium level is 8.5 – 10.2 mg/dL, making the client’s results extremely high (hypercalcemia). The condition typically results from hyperparathyroidism. The priority treatment of choice is intravenous bisphosphonates. Calcitonin is the secondary medical treatment of choice followed by corticosteroids. Renal dialysis is not considered an acceptable treatment.
