Nokea
A client is seen in the emergency department with severe pain related to a sickle cell crisis. What does the nurse understand is occurring with this client?
- A. The client has a decreased tolerance of pain related to the chronic nature of the illness.
- B. Bone marrow decreases the erythrocyte production causing decrease in hypoxia.
- C. Overhydration enlarges the red blood cells.
- D. Vascular occlusion in small vessels decreasing blood and oxygen to the tissues.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The person with sickle cell disease repeatedly suffers from two major problems: (1) episodes of sickle cell crisis from vascular occlusion, which develops rapidly under hypoxic conditions, and (2) chronic hemolytic anemia. During a sickle cell crisis, the sickle-shaped cells lodge in small blood vessels, where they block the flow of blood and oxygen to the affected tissue. The vascular occlusion induces severe pain in the ischemic tissue. The client may have increased tolerance for pain due to the chronic nature of the illness. Bone marrow increases the erythrocyte production. Underhydration increases the client's risk of developing a vaso-occlusive crisis.
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A client is experiencing chronic hypovolemic anemia as evidenced by laboratory results. What symptoms does the nurse expect to find for this client when collecting objective data?
- A. Postural hypotension
- B. Urinary output of 10 mL/hr
- C. Altered consciousness
- D. Extreme pallor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Symptoms of chronic hypovolemic anemia include pallor, fatigue, chills, postural hypotension, and rapid heart rate and respiratory rates. The symptom of decreased urinary output, altered consciousness, and extreme pallor are all signs of acute hypovolemic anemia from severe blood loss. These signs indicate hypovolemic shock.
The +2:21client was admitted to the Emergency Department after an accident with a chain saw. The client is exhibiting signs and symptoms of acute hypovolemic anemia from severe blood loss. What signs and symptoms would the nurse assess for?
- A. Malabsorption disorders
- B. Postural hypotension
- C. Fatigue
- D. Reduced urine output
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Acute hypovolemic anemia from severe blood loss is evidenced by the signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock, which include reduced urine output. The symptoms of chronic hypovolemic anemia include fatigue and postural hypotension. Clients with malabsorption disorders are at great risk of iron deficiency anemia.
The nurse observes the laboratory studies for a client in the hospital with fatigue, feeling cold all of the time, and hemoglobin of 8.6 g/dL and a hematocrit of 28%. What finding would be an indicator of iron-deficiency anemia?
- A. Erythrocytes that are microcytic and hypochromic
- B. Erythrocytes that are macrocytic and hyperchromic
- C. Clustering of platelets with sickled red blood cells
- D. An increased number of erythrocytes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A blood smear reveals erythrocytes that are microcytic (smaller than normal) and hypochromic (lighter in color than normal). It does not reveal macrocytic (larger than normal) or hyperchromic erythrocytes. Clustering of platelets with sickled red blood cells would indicate sickle cell anemia. An increase in the number of erythrocytes would indicate polycythemia vera.
A client comes to the walk-in clinic complaining of weakness and fatigue. While assessing this client, the nurse finds evidence of petechiae and ecchymoses. The nurse notes that the spleen appears enlarged. What would the nurse suspect is wrong with this client?
- A. Aplastic anemia
- B. Pernicious anemia
- C. Iron-deficiency anemia
- D. Agranulocytosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clients with aplastic anemia experience all the typical characteristics of anemia (weakness and fatigue). In addition, they have frequent opportunistic infections plus coagulation abnormalities that are manifested by unusual bleeding, small skin hemorrhages called petechiae, and ecchymoses (bruises). The spleen becomes enlarged with an accumulation of the client's blood cells destroyed by lymphocytes that failed to recognize them as normal cells, or with an accumulation of dead transfused blood cells. The blood cell count shows insufficient numbers of blood cells. A bone marrow aspiration confirms that the production of stem cells is suppressed. This scenario does not describe a client with pernicious anemia, iron-deficiency anemia, or agranulocytosis.
The nurse provides care for an older adult client, diagnosed with anemia, who has a hemoglobin of 9.6 g/dL and a hematocrit of 34%. To determine the cause of the client's blood loss, which is the priority nursing action?
- A. Evaluate the client's dietary intake.
- B. Observe the client's stools for blood.
- C. Monitor the client's body temperature.
- D. Monitor the client's blood pressure (BP).
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: If an older adult is anemic, blood loss from the gastrointestinal (GI) or genitourinary (GU) tracts is suspected. Observing the stool for blood will determine if the source of the client's bleeding is in the GI tract. Iron-deficiency anemia is unusual in older adults because the body does not eliminate excessive iron, thus increasing total body iron stores and necessitating maintenance of hydration. If evaluation of the GI and GU tracts does not reveal a source of bleeding, evaluating the client's diet may be appropriate; however, this is not the priority nursing action. Monitoring the client's body temperature and BP will assist the nurse in determining the source of the client's blood loss, but these are not priority nursing actions.