A patient with high bilirubin may present with which assessment finding?

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Study for the NCLEX Hepatic and Biliary Exam. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions, featuring hints and explanations. Get prepared and boost your confidence for test day!

Multiple Choice

A patient with high bilirubin may present with which assessment finding?

Explanation:
Elevated bilirubin most clearly manifests as jaundice, with yellow discoloration of tissues from bilirubin deposition. The sclera are often the first and most noticeable site to show this icteric change, so yellowing of the sclera is the best indicator of high bilirubin. Light-colored or frothy urine and blue mucous membranes point to other problems (proteinuria or hypoxemia, respectively), while dark urine can occur if bilirubin is excreted in the urine, but it’s not the classic sign clinicians rely on when bilirubin is elevated.

Elevated bilirubin most clearly manifests as jaundice, with yellow discoloration of tissues from bilirubin deposition. The sclera are often the first and most noticeable site to show this icteric change, so yellowing of the sclera is the best indicator of high bilirubin. Light-colored or frothy urine and blue mucous membranes point to other problems (proteinuria or hypoxemia, respectively), while dark urine can occur if bilirubin is excreted in the urine, but it’s not the classic sign clinicians rely on when bilirubin is elevated.

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