Which laboratory result should the nurse expect if the client has appendicitis?

In cases of appendicitis, the laboratory result that is most commonly expected is leukocytosis with a shift to the left. This means that there is an increased white blood cell (WBC) count, primarily indicating the body’s response to infection or inflammation, which is typical in acute appendicitis. The term "shift to the left" refers to the presence of immature white blood cells in the bloodstream, particularly band neutrophils, suggesting a strong inflammatory response.

Leukocytosis is a clear indicator of the body's reaction to the infection or inflammation occurring due to the inflamed appendix. The left shift suggests that the body is producing and releasing white blood cells rapidly, as it attempts to combat the infection. This physiological response is crucial for clinicians to monitor, as it assists in the diagnostic process for appendicitis.

Other options that include leukopenia or shifts to the right do not align with the typical response seen in appendicitis, as these would generally indicate different pathological conditions or responses, not consistent with an acute inflammatory response commonly observed in appendicitis.