Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Management of Patients With Nonmalignant Hematologic Disorders Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Management of Patients With Nonmalignant Hematologic Disorders related questions and content

A nurse is providing education to a patient with iron deficiency anemia who has been prescribed iron supplements. What should the nurse include in health education?

  • A. Take the iron with dairy products to enhance absorption.
  • B. Increase the intake of vitamin E to enhance absorption.
  • C. Iron will cause the stools to darken in color.
  • D. Limit foods high in fiber due to the risk for diarrhea.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The nurse will inform the patient that iron will cause the stools to become dark in color. Iron should be taken on an empty stomach, as its absorption is affected by food, especially dairy products. Patients should be instructed to increase their intake of vitamin C to enhance iron absorption. Foods high in fiber should be consumed to minimize problems with constipation, a common side effect associated with iron therapy.