When managing a new adult patient with hypertension, which initial lab evaluation is crucial before beginning treatment?

When managing a new adult patient with hypertension, assessing the serum creatinine level is crucial before starting treatment. This lab evaluation provides critical information about the patient's kidney function, which is important because hypertension can lead to kidney damage and vice versa. By measuring serum creatinine, the nurse practitioner can determine if there are any underlying renal issues contributing to the patient’s hypertension. This information will help guide treatment decisions, including the choice of antihypertensive medications, as certain classes of drugs are contraindicated in patients with impaired renal function.

In contrast, while a complete metabolic panel, electrocardiogram, and liver function tests may be relevant in the overall assessment of a patient's health, they do not specifically provide as direct information about conditions that could complicate the treatment of hypertension. For instance, while the complete metabolic panel includes electrolytes and glucose levels important for monitoring overall metabolic status, it does not focus specifically on renal function. An electrocardiogram can assess cardiac issues related to hypertension but does not evaluate renal status. Liver function tests, although important in certain clinical scenarios, are not typically the first consideration in the management of newly diagnosed hypertension. Thus, obtaining the serum creatinine level is the most directly relevant initial lab evaluation before initiating treatment for hypertension