Nokea
The nurse is reviewing laboratory data for an older-adult patient. Which of the following results should be of most concern?
- A. White blood cell (WBC) count of 3.5 x 10^9/L
- B. Hematocrit of 37%
- C. Platelet count of 400 x 10^9/L
- D. Hemoglobin of 118 g/L
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The total WBC count is not usually affected by aging, and the low WBC here would indicate that the patient's immune function may be compromised. The platelet count is normal. The slight decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit is not unusual for an older patient.
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The nurse is caring for a patient whose complete blood count (CBC) and differential indicate that the patient is neutropenic. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
- A. Avoid intramuscular injections
- B. Encourage increased oral fluids
- C. Check temperature every 4 hours
- D. Increase intake of iron-rich foods
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Neutropenic patients are at high risk for infection and sepsis and should be monitored frequently for signs of infection. The other actions would not address the patient's neutropenia.
The nurse is caring for a patient with persistent iron-deficiency anemia. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse anticipate?
- A. Yellow-tinged sclerae
- B. Shiny, smooth tongue
- C. Numbness of the extremities
- D. Gum bleeding and tenderness
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of the papillae of the tongue occurs with persistent iron-deficiency. Scleral jaundice is associated with hemolysis, gum bleeding and tenderness occur with thrombocytopenia or neutropenia, and extremity numbness is associated with vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia.
The nurse is caring for a newly admitted patient whose complete blood count (CBC) shows a 'shift to the left.' Which of the following assessments should the nurse monitor in the plan of care?
- A. Cool extremities
- B. Pallor and weakness
- C. Elevated temperature
- D. Low oxygen saturation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The term shift to the left indicates that the number of immature polymorphonuclear neutrophils, or bands, is elevated and is a sign of severe infection. There is no indication that the patient is at risk for hypoxemia, pallor or weakness, or cool extremities.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving heparin. Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse monitor?
- A. Prothrombin time (PT)
- B. Fibrin degradation products (FDP)
- C. International normalized ratio (INR)
- D. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: aPTT testing is used to determine whether heparin is at a therapeutic level. FDP is useful in diagnosis of problems such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). PT and INR are most commonly used to test for therapeutic levels of warfarin.
The nurse is evaluating the red cell indices result of a patient's laboratory report. Which of the following interpretations is correct related to a low mean corpuscular volume (MCV)?
- A. Hypochromic red blood cells (RBCs)
- B. Inadequate numbers of RBCs
- C. Low hemoglobin in the RBCs
- D. Small size of the RBCs
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The MCV is low when the RBCs are smaller than normal. Inadequate numbers of RBCs are an indication of anemia. Low levels of hemoglobin in the RBCs and hypochromic RBCs result in a low mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH).