Which lab value would the nurse be most concerned about?

• A. Glomerular filtration rate of 9 mL/min/1.73m2
• B. Hemoglobin 7.8 g/dL
• C. Potassium 5.5 mEq/L
• D. Calcium 9.2 mg/dL

Answer: (A)

The most important factor here is glomerular filtration rate because it directly shows how well the kidneys are filtering. A GFR of 9 mL/min/1.73 m2 indicates end-stage kidney disease, with very little filtration left. At this level, waste products build up, fluid and electrolyte balance becomes hard to maintain, and the patient is at high risk for uremic symptoms and complications that often require dialysis or transplant planning. While severe anemia and hyperkalemia are common in advanced CKD, they are consequences of the severely reduced filtration reflected by this GFR. A normal calcium level is not the primary issue here. So the extremely low GFR signals the most urgent concern for the patient.