A nurse is taking care of a patient who has been on longstanding total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The provider orders the TPN to be discontinued. Shortly after the TPN is stopped, the patient becomes altered and combative. The nurse attributes the change in this patient to which condition?

Hypoglycemia. The patient is likely experiencing hypoglycemia from the abrupt discontinuation of TPN. The patient may also experience dehydration, hypokalemia, and hypochloremia, but hypoglycemia would be most likely to alter the patient’s sensorium.