The nurse is assessing a patient after returning from surgery. After reviewing the patient's white blood cell differential, the nurse should notify the physician of
Explanation
• Neutrophils should account for 55–70% of all white blood cells. An elevation in neutrophils is indicative of a bacterial infection.
• The physician should be notified because the patient is at risk for infection and complications after surgery.
• Lymphocytes normal range: 20–40%
• Eosinophils normal range: 1–4%
• Basophils normal range: 0.5–1%