Which lab finding might lead a nurse to suspect that a client is experiencing cardiogenic shock?

In cardiogenic shock, the heart's ability to pump blood effectively is compromised, leading to inadequate blood flow to the body's organs and tissues. As a result, there can be a reduction in renal perfusion, which is reflected in the laboratory findings of increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. These elevated levels indicate that the kidneys are not receiving enough blood flow and are thus not functioning optimally, which is a common occurrence in cardiogenic shock due to decreased cardiac output.

In contrast, while the other lab findings might indicate issues with other bodily systems, they are not as directly associated with the physiological changes occurring in cardiogenic shock. High blood glucose levels may be seen in various conditions, including stress responses, but they do not specifically signal cardiogenic shock. Elevated liver enzymes can indicate liver dysfunction, which may occur due to various causes but is not a primary indicator of cardiogenic shock. Decreased sodium levels might indicate fluid imbalance or other conditions but do not signal the compromised heart function typical of cardiogenic shock. Thus, the combination of increased BUN and creatinine serves as a clear indicator that the kidneys are affected due to the heart's impaired pumping ability, leading to a suspicion of cardiogenic shock.