Which assessment finding in a client diagnosed with cholecystitis should be immediately reported to the provider?

In a client diagnosed with cholecystitis, the presence of tan-colored stools warrants immediate reporting to the provider. This finding can indicate an issue with bile drainage, most likely due to a blockage in the bile ducts, which can occur in cholecystitis due to gallstones or inflammation. When bile is not able to reach the intestines, the absence of bilirubin leads to lighter-colored stools. This is a significant change as it can suggest a progression toward complications such as cholestasis or biliary obstruction, which necessitates prompt medical intervention.

Other findings such as mild abdominal pain, low-grade fever, and nausea, while they may suggest ongoing inflammation or discomfort associated with cholecystitis, are more common and expected symptoms. They do not indicate an immediate deterioration of the client's condition as clearly as the change in stool color does. Recognizing the clinical significance of changes in stool color establishes the prioritization of assessment findings related to potential complications in a patient with cholecystitis.