Chronic Disease Questions Related

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The nurse on a bone marrow transplant unit is caring for a patient with cancer who is preparing for HSCT. What is a priority nursing diagnosis for this patient?

  • A. Fatigue related to altered metabolic processes
  • B. Altered nutrition: less than body requirements related to anorexia
  • C. Risk for infection related to altered immunologic response
  • D. Body image disturbance related to weight loss and anorexia
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: HSCT obliterates marrow, tanking immunity risk for infection soars as neutrophils vanish, making it the top nursing diagnosis pre-transplant. Sepsis can kill fast in this window, unlike fatigue or nutrition issues, which matter but aren't immediate threats. Body image might nag later with hair loss or weight shifts, but infection's the killer to watch. Nurses lock in on this, driving strict isolation and monitoring, knowing a stray germ could derail everything in oncology's high-stakes transplant game.